Bilawal reveals details of 27th Amendment as PM Shehbaz seeks PPP’s support

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally reached out to the PPP, seeking its support for the government’s proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.

In a post on X, Bilawal shared that a delegation led by the prime minister met him and President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the details of the proposal.

According to Bilawal, the proposed amendment covers several key changes, including the creation of a constitutional court, the revival of executive magistrates, and the transfer of judges. It also suggests removing the existing protection of provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) and revising Article 243, which defines the command structure of the armed forces.

Bilawal said the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting would be held on November 6 after President Zardari’s return from Doha to decide the party’s stance on the matter.

The government, which passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment last year, has been preparing to introduce the new amendment to reform local governments and address gaps left in previous legislation.

However, the proposal has already drawn criticism from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has accused the ruling coalition of undermining judicial independence and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.

The PPP’s decision could play a decisive role in determining the fate of the proposed amendment, given its influence in both houses of parliament. The upcoming CEC meeting is expected to set the tone for whether the party will back or resist the government’s push for constitutional reform.