Pakistan Constitutional Amendments:
- Thread starter ghazi52
- Start date
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #347
27th Amendment — What we know so far
At present, 64 votes are required in the Senate to pass any constitutional amendment
Naeem Asghar/Waqas Chaudhry
November 05, 2025
Cartoon by Sabir Nazar
The capital is abuzz with political frenzy as the much-discussed 27th Constitutional Amendment is poised to be tabled in the Senate this Friday.
With the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) set to take up the matter tomorrow during its executive committee meeting slated for tomorrow, two questions appear to dominate all circles: what will the final draft of the Amendment contain, and can it realistically win passage, given the fragile coalition that underpins the current parliamentary set-up?
Deliberations on the 27th Amendment began soon after the 26th Constitutional Amendment was passed in October 2024. Yet, until now, no one could say with certainty what it would entail.
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #348
Lawyer Mirza Moiz Baig told The Express Tribune that the proposed changes could undermine judicial independence. “The proposed amendments to Article 200, which remove the requirement of obtaining a judge’s consent before transferring them, leave judges vulnerable to executive influence. Similarly, the restoration of executive magistrates would breach the separation of powers guaranteed under Article 175, eroding the independence of the judiciary.”
The Amendment reportedly also seeks to reduce the provincial share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and introduce changes in command and control structures concerning the armed forces and appointments to the Election Commission. Among the key articles under discussion are Articles 8, 199, 200, 234, and 243.
Article 243 pertains to who commands the Armed Forces of Pakistan. It dictates that "The Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces."
The Amendment reportedly also seeks to reduce the provincial share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and introduce changes in command and control structures concerning the armed forces and appointments to the Election Commission. Among the key articles under discussion are Articles 8, 199, 200, 234, and 243.
Article 243 pertains to who commands the Armed Forces of Pakistan. It dictates that "The Federal Government shall have control and command of the Armed Forces."
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #349
It goes on to state, "without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces shall vest in the President". There is still much ambiguity surrounding what changes are going to be made.
"Likewise, the creation of the Federal Constitutional Court packed with judges who ruffle no feathers not only denigrates the Supreme Court into an appellate court but also eviscerates the judiciary’s ability to enforce fundamental rights."
Baig added, “The proposed 27th Amendment will do to the Federation what the 18th Amendment did to save it. Revisiting the provinces’ share in the NFC and curtailing provincial authority would dilute autonomy and undermine the federal character of the Constitution.”
The NFC Award has long been a source of tension between the Centre and the provinces. Successive governments, including the PTI administration, have voiced dissatisfaction with the current distribution formula, under which 57.5% of resources from the federal divisible pool go to the provinces, while the Centre retains 42.5%.
"Likewise, the creation of the Federal Constitutional Court packed with judges who ruffle no feathers not only denigrates the Supreme Court into an appellate court but also eviscerates the judiciary’s ability to enforce fundamental rights."
Baig added, “The proposed 27th Amendment will do to the Federation what the 18th Amendment did to save it. Revisiting the provinces’ share in the NFC and curtailing provincial authority would dilute autonomy and undermine the federal character of the Constitution.”
The NFC Award has long been a source of tension between the Centre and the provinces. Successive governments, including the PTI administration, have voiced dissatisfaction with the current distribution formula, under which 57.5% of resources from the federal divisible pool go to the provinces, while the Centre retains 42.5%.
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #350
Yasser Kureshi, a researcher at the University of Oxford told The Express Tribune that despite differences between the PML-N and PPP on other points, "there is likely to be consensus among them on taking the next steps in fragmenting and subordinating the judiciary through the 27th Amendment".
He added that debates over judicial independence "are now largely irrelevant, especially since the 26th Amendment. What we need to ask instead is: how does the current regime seek to use and weaponise the judiciary and how does this amendment serve that purpose."
"My understanding is that the judiciary's role is now to act as a rubber stamp, providing legal cover for the executive branch's efforts to organise and consolidate power," said Kureshi.
The Senate
At present, 64 votes are required in the Senate to pass any constitutional amendment. The PPP holds 26 seats, making it the most dominant party on the government benches, while the PML-N holds 20.
Among the coalition partners, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has four members, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) holds three. Independent senators on the government side include Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, Mohsin Naqvi, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim, and Faisal Vawda.
He added that debates over judicial independence "are now largely irrelevant, especially since the 26th Amendment. What we need to ask instead is: how does the current regime seek to use and weaponise the judiciary and how does this amendment serve that purpose."
"My understanding is that the judiciary's role is now to act as a rubber stamp, providing legal cover for the executive branch's efforts to organise and consolidate power," said Kureshi.
The Senate
At present, 64 votes are required in the Senate to pass any constitutional amendment. The PPP holds 26 seats, making it the most dominant party on the government benches, while the PML-N holds 20.
Among the coalition partners, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has four members, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) holds three. Independent senators on the government side include Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, Mohsin Naqvi, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim, and Faisal Vawda.
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #351
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, addressing the Senate on Tuesday, assured lawmakers that all coalition partners were being consulted and that unity was expected on key votes.
Read more: Experts see balance of power reshaping
"We will move forward in line with the Constitution and the law, giving every member the right to debate and share their opinion," he said. "Allies are being kept informed, and the draft will only be finalised after mutual agreement."
Dar reaffirmed that it was the government's constitutional duty to move amendments transparently and with consensus. "There should be no confusion about who will present the bill," he said. "It is the government's responsibility, and it will be done through parliament, not outside it."
On the opposition benches, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains the largest party, holding 14 seats, with one newly elected senator expected to take the oath soon. The Awami National Party (ANP) holds three seats, while the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has seven. The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) have one senator each.
The PTI has stated unequivocally that it will not support the 27th Amendment. The Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has announced plans to block all attempts to secure its passage.
Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser criticised the PPP’s stance, saying, “There was once a PPP of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the foundation of the Constitution, and another of Benazir Bhutto, who sacrificed her life for democracy. But today’s PPP is working hard to bury democracy.”
Read more: Experts see balance of power reshaping
"We will move forward in line with the Constitution and the law, giving every member the right to debate and share their opinion," he said. "Allies are being kept informed, and the draft will only be finalised after mutual agreement."
Dar reaffirmed that it was the government's constitutional duty to move amendments transparently and with consensus. "There should be no confusion about who will present the bill," he said. "It is the government's responsibility, and it will be done through parliament, not outside it."
On the opposition benches, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains the largest party, holding 14 seats, with one newly elected senator expected to take the oath soon. The Awami National Party (ANP) holds three seats, while the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has seven. The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) have one senator each.
The PTI has stated unequivocally that it will not support the 27th Amendment. The Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has announced plans to block all attempts to secure its passage.
Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser criticised the PPP’s stance, saying, “There was once a PPP of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the foundation of the Constitution, and another of Benazir Bhutto, who sacrificed her life for democracy. But today’s PPP is working hard to bury democracy.”
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #352
The final step
After the amendments draft is finalised in the Senate, it will move on to the National Assembly for a vote.
The government alliance may hold a two-thirds majority in Parliament, but without the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) support, the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment remains uncertain. So, what is the current party position in the National Assembly, and how many votes are required to approve the amendment?
The National Assembly comprises 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members stands at 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden figure” of 224 votes.
At present, the ruling alliance commands the support of 237 members in the National Assembly. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with 22, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) with 5, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) with 4, and one member each from the Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z), the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and the National Party. The government also enjoys the backing of four independent members.
PPP, with 74 members, is the second-largest party within the coalition. Its support has been crucial in helping the federal government secure not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when required.
On the other hand, the opposition benches have only 89 members in total. These include 75 independents, 10 members from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Pakistan), and one member each from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
Nothing about the 27th constitutional amendment do we know with certainty yet, the draft that will be initially presented on the floor of the Senate on November 7 will, in all likelihood, not be the amendment that will ultimately arrive for a vote in the National Assembly. What we do know is that the burden of passing the 27th constitutional amendment rests on PPP's shoulders, without whom the amendment may never materialise.
After the amendments draft is finalised in the Senate, it will move on to the National Assembly for a vote.
The government alliance may hold a two-thirds majority in Parliament, but without the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) support, the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment remains uncertain. So, what is the current party position in the National Assembly, and how many votes are required to approve the amendment?
The National Assembly comprises 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members stands at 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden figure” of 224 votes.
At present, the ruling alliance commands the support of 237 members in the National Assembly. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with 22, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) with 5, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) with 4, and one member each from the Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z), the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and the National Party. The government also enjoys the backing of four independent members.
PPP, with 74 members, is the second-largest party within the coalition. Its support has been crucial in helping the federal government secure not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when required.
On the other hand, the opposition benches have only 89 members in total. These include 75 independents, 10 members from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Pakistan), and one member each from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
Nothing about the 27th constitutional amendment do we know with certainty yet, the draft that will be initially presented on the floor of the Senate on November 7 will, in all likelihood, not be the amendment that will ultimately arrive for a vote in the National Assembly. What we do know is that the burden of passing the 27th constitutional amendment rests on PPP's shoulders, without whom the amendment may never materialise.
Fatman17
Moderator
All eyes are on the Supreme Court judges and their response to the proposed creation of the Federal Constitutional Court under the 27th amendment, which would serve as the country's apex court.
Final nail in the coffin
Final nail in the coffin
S.Y.A
Trusted Member
they will do nothing.
mythbuster
Trusted Member
Does that mean an altogether a separate court ?.....we already have a section of supreme court working as a constitutional court .All eyes are on the Supreme Court judges and their response to the proposed creation of the Federal Constitutional Court under the 27th amendment, which would serve as the country's apex court.
Final nail in the coffin
Fatman17
Moderator
Super Supreme Court
Forsvaret
Trusted Member
ziaulislam
Elite Member
Congratulations to all Pakistanis, most of the people here on this thread will soon be Ex Pakistanis by the way with the 27th amendment
Question lies, should you keep or move your assets
Question lies, should you keep or move your assets
ziaulislam
Elite Member
??
I dont get it. Questionable on news or the topic
Its been reported by literally e ery news outlet
Users who are viewing this thread
Pakistan Defence Latest
Country Watch Latest
-
-
-
-
The deal for 48 F-35 fighters.. How can it reshape Saudi air power in the Middle East? (11 Viewers)- Latest: Ali_Baba
-
Latest Posts
-
[German] Engineers build world's first portable diamond-powered quantum computer — it works at room temperature (2 Viewers)- Latest: Hamartia Antidote
-
-
-
-