• PPP CEC offers ‘conditional support’ for constitutional courts under 27th Amendment
• Fazl vows to oppose any clauses ‘removed from earlier amendment’ if they surface again
• Asad Qaiser says PTI in contact with other parties, will take amendment to court if necessary
KARACHI / ISLAMABAD: The PPP on Friday set out its position on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, as it declared support for the government’s recommendations related to Article 243, but made its backing for the establishment of constitutional courts and judicial transfers conditional on the inclusion of its own proposals.
The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held consultations with various ruling allies to secure support for the controversial amendment. According to cabinet ministers, the government expects to table the bill in the Senate in the coming days.
The PPP had already rejected the government’s plan to reduce provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, showing a renewed assertion of its “federalist principles and political independence”.
Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting at Bilawal House in Karachi, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asserted that the amendment to Article 243, which pertains to the role and leadership of the armed forces, would not undermine civilian supremacy.
“After the victory (against India) in the May conflict, the PPP has openly expressed its support for the respect and recognition earned by the armed forces, emphasising that this acknowledgement deserves constitutional protection,” he said.
“If the amendment to Article 243 had harmed civilian supremacy, I would have been its strongest opponent. The change would neither affect the powers of the president of Pakistan nor undermine civilian supremacy,” he added.
However, the PPP chairman reaffirmed his resolve to oppose any amendment aimed at altering the provinces’ share in the NFC Award, declaring that, if necessary, the party would build a consensus with other political parties to resist such a proposal.
On two other proposed points of the 27th Amendment — the establishment of constitutional courts and the transfer of judges — Mr Bhutto-Zardari offered conditional support, expressing the hope of engaging all stakeholders to review the PPP’s suggestions before reaching a final decision.
Regarding proposed amendments to the transfer of judges, Mr Bhutto-Zardari suggested incorporating a mechanism to make the judicial reforms fairer and counter criticism.
“The Constitution states that the president may transfer a judge with the judge’s consent and after consultation with the relevant chief justices. The government’s proposal seeks to abolish this consultation process and instead empower a parliamentary committee to make the decision,” he explained.
The PPP chairman said the party believed a better approach would be for the president to initiate the process, and that if a judicial commission were to be given a role, that would be acceptable, since it’s an appropriate forum.
“However, rather than removing consultation altogether, the chief justices of the relevant courts should be made voting members of the commission when a transfer is being decided,” he said.
“They could also invite the relevant judges who have to be transferred to share their opinion on the matter. This way, the process would remain transparent, avoid criticism and provide the amendment with a stronger constitutional cover.”
‘Oppose old clauses’
Meanwhile, the JUI-F on Friday resolved to oppose the clauses that were dropped from the 26th Amendment, if they were introduced again in the upcoming 27th Amendment. Following a meeting of the JUI-F parliamentary party, Maulana Fazlur Rehman told reporters in Islamabad that until the government shares a draft of the amendment with them, they could not make up their minds.
He recalled that it was his party’s efforts that ensured the exclusion of controversial clauses from the previous amendment, adding: “if any of these clauses are brought again it will be considered an insult to parliament and the Constitution”.
Referring to proposed changes to Article 243, which governs the appointments of the services chiefs, he said it would be different if the amendment were related to administrative issues. “But if it is intended to weaken democracy, we won’t accept it,” he said. He also made it clear that his party would oppose any rollback of the 18th Amendment, including changes to the NFC Award or any reduction in the powers of the provinces.
He also echoed the PTI’s position, that the current assembly doesn’t have a genuine mandate to make such major changes to the Constitution.
The Maulana also slammed the incumbent government for reneging on its commitments regarding vetting of laws by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), the elimination of interest (Riba), and the registration of religious seminaries.
PTI contacts
Speaking at a separate news conference, PTI’s Asad Qaiser said they were in contact with other opposition parties over the issue.
“Our first meeting was with [JUI-F chief] Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in which we thanked him for his support in the appointment of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly,” he added.
He said if the PPP wished to sustain its “public-oriented” politics, it must reject the entire package of the 27th Amendment without exception.
Mr Qaiser vowed that the PTI would challenge the passage of the 27th Amendment before the courts and would go to the public.
Expressing concern over the recent conduct of the judiciary, the PTI leader said the attitude of the courts had become deeply disappointing.
“When cases are moved or delayed on political grounds or under administrative pressure, it undermines the credibility of the judiciary,” he said. “If a larger bench delivers a verdict and it is not implemented, it raises serious questions over the justice system.”
Iftikhar A Khan in Islamabad also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2025
