ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari revealed on Monday that a PML-N delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met him and President Asif Ali Zardari, seeking PPP’s support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a proposal that could reshape Pakistan’s judicial and administrative framework.
According to a statement issued by the PPP, Bilawal said the amendment includes proposals for the creation of constitutional courts, restoration of executive magistrates, and revisions in the transfer of judges. It also reportedly addresses Article 243, which pertains to the command of the armed forces, and the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, potentially altering provincial fiscal protections.
The proposal also suggests returning education and population planning to the federal domain, as well as ending the stalemate over appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Bilawal said.
The PPP leader announced that the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) would meet on November 6 at Bilawal House, Karachi after President Zardari’s return from Doha to decide its official stance. The overall political situation in the country will also be discussed, the party said in a statement.
Speaking to Media, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik confirmed ongoing discussions on the amendment but said that a formal draft “has not yet been finalized.”
He explained that the establishment of constitutional courts was part of an “unfinished agenda” meant to improve the judicial process, while the restoration of executive magistrates could reduce the workload of existing courts. Malik further emphasized the need for federal oversight in education and population control, citing disparities among provinces and the issue of radicalization.
He noted that after the recent promotion of Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir to Field Marshal, constitutional clarity was required in Article 243, which governs the armed forces’ command structure.
Regarding the Election Commission deadlock, Malik clarified that the government did not intend to remove the opposition leader’s role in appointments but sought to avoid procedural paralysis in case there is no opposition leader.
The minister acknowledged that the NFC clause required political consensus, which the government was developing with allies. The discussion around the 27th Amendment comes less than a year after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, passed in October 2024 amid controversy. Opposition parties, including the PTI and BNP-M, accused the government of coercion and manipulation to secure votes.
Although both the PPP and PML-N had previously dismissed the need for a new amendment with Deputy PM Ishaq Dar stating in August that the country was stable political dynamics now appear to be shifting.
In recent weeks, Bilawal Bhutto met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the amendment and broader parliamentary cooperation. According to JUI-F sources, both parties agreed on the importance of forming a collective legislative strategy.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) has already expressed support for the proposed reforms, particularly the rotation of judges and judicial restructuring, calling the 27th Amendment a necessary continuation of the previous constitutional reforms.
However, opposition PTI has strongly criticized the initiative, warning that it could centralize power and undermine provincial autonomy.
As political negotiations intensify, all eyes are now on November 6, when the PPP leadership convenes to decide whether it will back or oppose one of Pakistan’s most consequential constitutional overhauls in recent history.