27th Constitutional Amendment will be govt-led, not 'parachuted' from anywhere: Dar

Opposition alliance calls amendment a threat to Pakistan’s foundation, vows to block it

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to introducing the 27th Constitutional Amendment, stressing that the initiative is entirely government-led and “not being parachuted from anywhere.”

Clarifying the government’s position on the proposed amendment and addressing questions about its origin, he emphasised that the initiative is entirely government-led. “This amendment belongs to the government, and it is the government’s responsibility to bring it forward,” he said during a Senate session on Tuesday.

“It is not being parachuted from anywhere — we are discussing it with our allies and will also consult other stakeholders, including legal forums. You never know where a pearl of wisdom might come from that could help make the amendment even better,” he assured.

He said that the proposed amendment could be presented first in the Senate instead of the National Assembly, which is the usual practice. “Normally, such matters are introduced in the National Assembly, but if you want to see it sooner, I can request the government to bring it to the Senate first. That way, we can review it here and make valuable additions. I am ready for that — there is more professionalism and valuable input in this house,” he remarked.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Dar said, “The 27th Amendment is coming — there is no question about whether it will come or not. We will bring it forward in line with principles and the law. Members will have every right to give their opinions, to debate it thoroughly, and the amendment will also be referred to the committee. If the committee recommends that it be discussed in the other House as well, we will do that too. The government has no reservations. This will not be an amendment that is rushed through for a quick vote.”

Read: Shehbaz led PML-N delegation approached PPP to back 27th Amendment: Bilawal

“I also saw the tweet from (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He is our ally, a politician, and the chairman of a major political party — he has every right to express his views. We are following a proper process. Right now, we are sitting with our largest ally, the PPP, and I have already had at least three rounds of discussions with them. The law minister has also held several meetings.”

“The areas Bilawal Sahib has identified are not random. Let me confess that those areas have been discussed in detail. He has not mentioned anything that was not deliberated with us. We and the PPP have reached an understanding on certain points, and now we are bringing our other allies on board,” Dar said.

He added that other coalition partners, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan, Awami National Pakistan, and Balochistan Awami Party, would also be taken into confidence. “We will consult with all our allies as per procedure and only then table the final document,” he stated.

Dar assured opposition Senator Ali Zafar, saying, "I want to assure the honourable Ali Zafar that this process will be fully transparent,' while also adding that he assures the House that, whatever the process may be, it will remain transparent. "As I have stated here, we will try to bring the amendment to this House as soon as possible, and then the process will follow its due course."

He also proposed that the amendment be referred to the Law Committee for detailed deliberation. “The committee brings greater focus and wisdom to the process. I would also request that Law Committee Chairman Farooq H Naek invite members of the law committee from the other House so that it becomes a joint parliamentary exercise, allowing for full participation and meaningful value addition,” he said.

Opposition vows to block 27th amendment

The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan has announced that it will not allow the 27th Constitutional Amendment to be passed, warning that it would have “disastrous consequences” and could “shake the very foundations of the country.” The statement came after an emergency meeting of the alliance, chaired by its president, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, to discuss the prevailing political situation.

Addressing a press conference following the meeting in Islamabad, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said the opposition had convened urgently in response to recent developments surrounding the proposed amendment. “The Pandora’s box opened by the 27th Amendment is deeply alarming,” Qaiser said, criticising a recent tweet by Bilawal, which he described as “concerning.”

On Monday, Bilawal tweeted that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz delegation headed by PM Shehbaz Sharif called on President Asif Ali Zardari and him, requesting PPPs support in passing the 27th amendment. He said the 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 dead lock on appointment of ECP.

Qaiser alleged that the PPP was complicit in what he called a “political farce,” claiming that decisions had already been made behind closed doors and that public consultations were merely for show. Referring to the PPP’s legacy, he said, “There was a PPP of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that laid the foundation of the Constitution, and another under Benazir Bhutto who sacrificed for democracy. Today’s PPP, however, seems bent on burying democracy.”

He also took on the PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif during the press conference, questioning the disappearance of his slogan “Vote ko izzat do” (Respect the vote). “Where is that campaign now?” Qaiser asked. “What is the worth of power obtained by pleading for it? Nawaz Sharif, once claiming to be the champion of electoral respect, is now silent.”

The PTI leader revealed that the alliance had also shared its recommendations with Imran Khan and would issue a joint statement if a meeting takes place. “We will fight for the supremacy of the Constitution and democracy both in Parliament and among the people,” he vowed.

Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar strongly condemned the proposed constitutional changes, asserting that “a system of coercion has been imposed in the country for some time.” He argued that fundamental constitutional protections for citizens were being systematically undermined.

Criticising the proposed amendment, he said that details about it had come to light through a tweet by Bilawal, warned that these are the kinds of measures that — whether intentionally or not — would shake the very foundations of the country.

He argued that if the goal is to establish constitutional courts, there was no need to create new constitutional benches. “If you want to establish constitutional courts, then what was the need to create constitutional benches in the first place? When you formed constitutional benches through the 26th Amendment, you told the entire nation that this would improve the delivery of justice in Pakistan.”

“If justice has not improved, if the people of Pakistan are still deprived of timely justice, then why are you now creating new constitutional courts? We are hearing that the retirement age for these judges will be set at seventy years — this means you are creating an incentive, a temptation for judges,” he said.

“You are offering rewards to those who follow the government’s line and punishing those who dare to rule against it. This amendment will turn the judiciary into a system that values obedience over justice,” he added. He further warned against reviving “colonial-era black laws” that could be used against the judiciary, media, and other institutions.

He also claimed that the Election Commission was being turned into “a joke,” with new amendments planned for its appointments and several provincial powers being shifted back to the federal level. “I saw some cabinet members crying during the meeting,” he said. “We have learned nothing from history.”

Khokhar issued a particularly stark warning regarding proposed changes to Article 243, which governs the appointment of the Army Chief. He alleged that the amendment seeks to introduce a new Commander-in-Chief position, effectively restructuring Pakistan’s civil-military hierarchy.

“This move would completely alter the country’s infrastructure,” he said. “Are you handing over the country to someone else? What happened to the idea of civilian supremacy? This amendment would place civilian institutions under the establishment, shaking the nation’s foundations,” he stated.

He vowed that the opposition alliance would not allow such a move. “We will mobilise media, civil society, and all democratic forces to resist it. This month is critical — we must stop this illegitimate parliament from taking such a reckless step.”

Former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair also urged Nawaz Sharif to publicly oppose both the 26th and 27th amendments. “I am hopeful he will reject these proposals and persuade his brother to withdraw them,” he said.