Muhammad Asim Saddiqi 
The government’s plan to introduce the 27th Constitutional Amendment has triggered intense political debate in the Senate and beyond, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar assuring that the proposal is a government-led initiative to be tabled “soon” after consultation with coalition partners, while opposition parties denounced it as a threat to provincial autonomy and judicial independence.
Presiding over the Senate session in the absence of Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Senator Manzoor Ahmad oversaw heated exchanges between treasury and opposition benches as the chamber discussed the proposed amendment for the first time. Taking the floor, Ishaq Dar, who also serves as Leader of the House, said the 27th Amendment would be introduced transparently and through due parliamentary process. He clarified that the bill “is not parachuted in from anywhere” but originates from within the government itself.
“It is our amendment,” Dar stated. “The government will move it in line with the Constitution after consultation with all coalition partners, including the PPP, MQM, ANP and BAP. It will not be rushed through rhetoric.”
He suggested that the bill may originate in the Senate before moving to the National Assembly “to ensure detailed scrutiny” and avoid “number game pressures” in the lower house. Dar also confirmed that the draft will be referred to the Law and Justice Committee for review before being presented for a vote. Dar emphasized the need for transparency, saying, “Every member will have the right to debate and share their opinion. This will be a consensus-based process, not a unilateral one.”
Opposition Raises Alarm: ‘Conspiracy Against Constitution’
The debate was ignited by PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar, who labelled the amendment a “conspiracy against the Constitution.” He argued that the proposed changes risked undoing the spirit of the 18th Amendment, which devolved powers to provinces and strengthened parliamentary democracy.
“Constitutions are not murdered by bullets but by mala fide amendments made under the guise of reform,” Zafar said.
He alleged that the amendment could undermine judicial independence through the creation of constitutional courts, alter presidential powers under Article 243, reduce provincial shares in the NFC Award, and recentralize devolved functions such as education and health.
Zafar questioned the origin of the amendment, citing PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s social media post, which detailed proposals including constitutional courts, executive magistrates, and revised provincial allocations. “Either ministers were unaware of it or not being truthful,” Zafar said. “In both cases, it shows someone else is drafting the amendment”.
The controversy deepened after the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), a newly formed alliance of opposition parties led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai announced plans to block any move to pass the amendment, warning it would “shake the very foundations of the country.” At a joint press conference, PTI’s Asad Qaiser said the proposed changes were “deeply concerning,” accusing both the PML-N and PPP of political double standards.
“There once was a PPP of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, who gave their lives for democracy,” he said. “But today’s PPP is working to bury it.”
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, another TTAP leader, said the amendment process lacked transparency and alleged it would “reward compliant judges” and “weaken constitutional institutions.”
“Judges will be transferred like bureaucrats — those whose decisions displease the government will be sidelined,” he warned.
Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also rejected the proposed amendment, calling it a “mockery of the law.”
“We did not accept the 26th Amendment and we will not accept the 27th either,” he said at a Karachi press conference. “This is an attempt to tighten the government’s grip on power and suppress the people.”
Naeem criticized all parties that supported earlier constitutional changes, claiming they served only the government’s interests. Despite growing opposition, Ishaq Dar reiterated that the government alone would introduce the 27th Amendment and that no external hand was involved.
“We will not legislate through coercion or haste. Parliament alone has the constitutional authority to amend the law,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and coalition leaders were in contact to build consensus.
He also touched upon regional and security matters, revealing that Pakistan had sent over 2,000 metric tonnes of aid to Gaza and was engaged in diplomatic efforts with seven Muslim countries for a ceasefire. On terrorism, Dar stated that Pakistan had repeatedly urged Afghanistan to prevent militant groups like the TTP and BLA from operating across the border. While the government pledges consensus and transparency, opposition forces from PTI to JI and TTAP view the 27th Amendment as a backdoor centralization of power and a potential constitutional rollback. With both sides standing firm, the coming weeks are expected to see intense parliamentary debate, testing not only the government’s coalition unity but also the resilience of Pakistan’s constitutional order
