By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approached the leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party this week to rally support for a proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, a move that could reshape the judiciary and other key institutions amid lingering controversy over recent changes to the legal system.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the PPP, disclosed the overture in a post on the social media platform X on Monday, detailing the sweeping provisions under consideration. The proposal includes the establishment of constitutional courts, the restoration of executive magistrates and adjustments to the transfer of judges, according to Bhutto-Zardari’s statement, which was also released by the party.
He further outlined measures that would eliminate safeguards for the provincial share under the National Finance Commission and introduce amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution, which governs the command of the armed forces. Additional elements involve returning the subjects of education and population planning to federal control and resolving the impasse over appointments to the election commission.
The PPP has convened a session of its central executive committee to deliberate on the matter, scheduled after President Asif Ali Zardari returns from Doha on November 6, Bhutto-Zardari said.
The push for a new amendment comes just over a year after Parliament approved the 26th Constitutional Amendment in an overnight session in October 2024. That legislation, which modified judicial authority and tenure, drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and legal experts who argued it undermined the independence of the judiciary.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the main opposition party of former prime minister Imran Khan, claimed that seven of its lawmakers were abducted to secure their votes in favor of the measure, which the PTI opposed. Similarly, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal alleged that its two senators faced pressure, though both ultimately voted for the changes in defiance of their party’s position.
Despite the 26th Amendment remaining entangled in legal challenges and public debate, discussions in Islamabad’s political circles have intensified about a potential 27th Amendment aimed at further refining the superior judiciary’s structure and operations, according to insiders. Yet the proposal has not been without internal contradictions within the ruling coalition.
In August, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar asserted during a press conference that the country was “running well” with stability and economic improvement, declaring there was no need for the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The issue surfaced again in an October 27 meeting between Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl). The two leaders convened to address the prevailing political situation and devise a joint strategy on national issues.
JUI-F officials described the talks as centered on crafting a collective approach to new legislation and fostering parliamentary cooperation between the PPP and the JUI-F. They said Bhutto-Zardari emphasised the critical role of national parties in the forthcoming legislative process.
The PTI, meanwhile, has voiced strong objections to the proposed amendment, continuing its criticism of efforts to alter the constitutional framework. Support for the measure has come from some quarters in the legal community. In June, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association endorsed the 27th Amendment while advocating for comprehensive judicial reforms, such as the nationwide rotation of judges.
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