Govt confers with PPP as 27th amend plan unfolds

Proposals include creation of constitutional court, Changes in Article 160(3)A, Article 243 on cards

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has set in motion the process for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, proposing significant changes to various articles of the Constitution, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari revealed on Monday.

His statement followed a recent meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which has triggered intense debate among political circles across the country, where the proposed constitutional changes have become the centre of national attention.

Bilawal's post on X stirred widespread speculation about the amendment's scope and timing, as the government promptly summoned both houses of parliament to session - the Senate on Tuesday (today) and the National Assembly on Wednesday (tomorrow).

According to Bilawal, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz, met him and President Asif Zardari at the Presidency to seek the PPP's support for the amendment.

The PPP chairman later made public the details of the meeting, confirming that his party had been requested to back the 27th Amendment. However, he added that his party would decide on the matter in its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting.

Bilawal revealed that the proposed legislation includes establishing a constitutional court, restoring the system of executive magistrates, and granting the federal government authority to transfer judges.

It also seeks to end constitutional protection for the provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, amend the Article 243, bring education, population planning back under the federal control and make appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Posting on X, Bilawal wrote that a PML-N delegation headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met him and President Asif Zardari and requested for the PPP's support for passing the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

"Proposal includes: setting up Constitutional Court, executive magistrates, transfer of judges, removal of protection of provincial share in NFC, amending Article 243, return of education and population planning to the federation and breaking deadlock on appointment of ECP," he wrote.

The PPP chairman said he has called a meeting of the party's CEC at Bilawal House, Karachi, on November 6, after President Zardari's return from Doha, to finalise the party's position on the amendment.

Meanwhile, details of the draft shared by the government with the PPP have come to light. Sources said the government seeks to amend Clause 3A of the Article 160, besides the articles 213, 243, 191A, and 200. Under the proposal, the constitutional guarantee of provincial shares in federal revenues under Article 160(3)A would be abolished.

The draft also includes a major restructuring of the judicial system, with the insertion of a new Article 191A proposing the creation of a constitutional court - or supreme constitutional court - that would assume authority over the Constitution's interpretation. Amendments to Article 200 concerning the transfer of high court judges are also part of the proposal.

Other suggested changes include returning education and population planning to federal control, while amendments to Article 243 would ensure that the command of the armed forces rests entirely with the federal government. Article 213 would also be revised to modify the process for appointing the chief election commissioner.

According to insiders, the federal government has formally handed over the 27th Amendment draft to the PPP, seeking its endorsement for parliamentary passage. In this regard, both houses of parliament have been summoned.

Following the president's approval, official notifications have been issued. Accordingly, the Senate session has been scheduled for 4pm Tuesday (today), while the National Assembly will meet on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 5pm.

In anticipation of critical deliberations, political parties have directed all their members to ensure full attendance. Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has convened an important consultative meeting of parliamentary party leaders an hour before the session.

The purpose of the meeting is to seek the views of parliamentary leaders on the proceedings during the 21st National Assembly session, including the preparation of the agenda, duration of the session, and matters related to maintaining order in the House.

During the meeting, parliamentary leaders will also exchange views on major national issues, legislation, and matters of public interest likely to come under discussion in the House.

Those invited to attend include Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah; federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Attaullah Tarar, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Khalid Hussain Magsi.

Assembly members Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Nuzhat Sadiq, Ejaz Jakhrani, Syed Naveed Qamar, Shazia Marri, Shehla Raza, Aminul Haque, Syed Hafeezuddin, Asad Qaiser, Gohar Ali Khan, Amir Dogar, Riaz Fatyana, Noor Alam Khan, Gul Asghar, Ejazul Haq, and Hussain Elahi will also attend the discussion.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment follows the contentious 26th Amendment, passed in October last year, which introduced wide-ranging reforms granting parliament and the executive greater control over judicial appointments and evaluations.