Former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has warned that the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment could reverse the provincial autonomy established under the 18th Amendment. He stated that altering financial devolution would contradict the principles of participatory federalism and could create serious instability in the federation.
judiciary,The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has approached its key ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), for backing in introducing the amendment. The proposed changes include the creation of a Constitutional Court, modifications to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, adjustments to Article 243 regarding the armed forces, and provisions affecting the judiciary such as executive magistrates, judge transfers, and provincial financial protections.
Rabbani emphasized that the 18th Amendment had curtailed extreme nationalist politics, and undoing it could embolden extra-constitutional activities. He also highlighted that recalling devolved ministries would financially burden the federal government. As a solution, he suggested allowing provinces to collect taxes directly and manage federal expenditures via the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The amendment has faced opposition from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which claims it threatens judicial independence. Lawyer Salman Akram Raja described the changes as “extremely dangerous” and urged other parties to resist efforts that alter the Constitution’s basic structure.
political affairs,Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s adviser on Political Affairs, Senator Rana Sanaullah, assured that the proposed amendment would not harm democracy. Speaking on a news program, he said the government would consult coalition partners and only move forward after achieving consensus. He added that forming a constitutional court, included in the Charter of Democracy, was widely accepted and not controversial.
Sanaullah also mentioned that PM Shehbaz Sharif had personally assured Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister that no amendment would be enacted without complete agreement among all stakeholders.
#PakistanPolitics #27thAmendment #ProvincialAutonomy #PPP #PMLN #PTI
