Hyderabad — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has dismissed reports about any move toward a 27th Constitutional Amendment, calling the chatter “baseless rumours” with no official approach made to him or his party.
Speaking to journalists in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Bilawal clarified that neither the prime minister, any federal minister, nor a party member had contacted him about such an amendment.
The political debate comes amid whispers in Islamabad’s corridors of power about possible judicial reforms aimed at “fine-tuning” the structure and functioning of the superior judiciary — a continuation of changes introduced under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Background on the 26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment brought significant changes to the judicial framework but left certain contentious points unresolved, such as the establishment of a separate constitutional court. Insiders claim these issues could resurface in any future amendment.
Bilawal reminded that the 26th Amendment had been passed through consensus among political parties. “The PPP supported judicial reforms and even pushed for constitutional courts, but we compromised in the interest of unity,” he said. In a statement shared on X, the PPP quoted him:
“The 26th Constitutional Amendment is a historic success. While the Charter of Democracy called for judicial reforms and constitutional courts, we agreed to prioritise a constitutional bench for the sake of consensus.”
Status of the 27th Amendment Proposal
Although consultations are reportedly taking place within the ruling PML-N and some legal circles, no official draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has been presented. At this stage, the proposal remains in its infancy.
Opposition leaders are also weighing in. PTI senior leader Asad Qaiser announced on Sunday that his party would engage with the legal community over the matter, starting with a meeting at the Islamabad Bar this month. Earlier in June, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association publicly supported the idea of the 27th Amendment, calling for broad judicial reforms, including nationwide rotation of judges.
Bilawal Calls for New NFC Award
In response to a separate question, Bilawal emphasised the need for a revised National Finance Commission (NFC) award. He pointed out that the last award was decided before the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010, which shifted significant responsibilities from the federal government to the provinces.
“The Constitution requires that the NFC award be announced every five years, and it clearly states that provincial shares cannot be reduced in any new award,” Bilawal said.
He urged the government to immediately convene the NFC, noting:
“All provinces must receive greater resources in line with their increased responsibilities after the 18th Amendment.”
