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PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chairs the party's central executive committee in Karachi on October 18, 2025. — Facebook@Bilawalhouse
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KARACHI: The Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is holding a key meeting in Karachi on the proposed 27th constitutional amendment of the federal government.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has sought a broad political agreement on the proposed constitutional mandate to establish a constitutional court and make some changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
According to PPP Chairman Balawal Bhutto-Zidardari, the amendment also sought to amend Article 243—which deals with the high command of the armed forces—as well as several other important constitutional adjustments.
Other proposals include the introduction of executive magistrates, provisions for transfer of judges, and removal of reservations regarding provincial shares in NFC awards.
President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Balwal are presiding over this meeting. Party ministers from Sindh and Balochistan are participating in it. Governors of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are also participating in it.
Sources told Geo News that senior PPP leaders expressed dissatisfaction with many provisions during extensive discussions on the proposed adaptation.
Sources added that there should be no compromise on the NFC Award and Article 160, Clause 3A of the Constitution.
He added that most of the party members were against any change in the 18th Amendment schedule.
Prior to the meeting, PPP leader Shazia Mary had said that her party would not support any constitutional amendment that seeks to roll back provincial autonomy guaranteed under the 18th Amendment.
Speaking to reporters in Karachi, he confirmed that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had secured the PPP’s support on the proposed 27th Amendment during his recent meeting with Balwal.
Mary said that the PPP always stands for strengthening the provinces and cannot endorse any proposal that changes the powers given to them.
“The PPP cannot support any move that takes back the powers already given to the provinces,” he said.
“We discuss every issue within our party. Speculations about the amendment are already doing rounds even before its draft is made public,” he added.
The PPP leader reiterated that his party has a clear position on the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
“We won provincial autonomy through constitutional struggle. It is simply not possible to roll back the 18th Amendment,” he asserted.
Mary said the party was ready to support any amendment that would ensure improved governance and public assistance.
“If there is anything in the proposed amendment that improves the system, we will support it. If it increases the administrative work of institutions, we will support it. And if it brings relief to people, we will support it,” he said.
“However, the PPP cannot be part of any initiative that undermines provincial rights.”
He added that if the government wants the PPP’s support, it must ensure that no provision undermines the powers given to the provinces under the constitution.
Does the government have a magic number?
According to parliamentary sources, the PML-N government currently enjoys the support of 237 members in the National Assembly, where 224 votes are needed to pass the constitutional amendment.
Muslim League (N) has 125 seats, while PPP has 74 members.
The ruling coalition includes 22 members from the MQM-P, five from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and four from the Isthakam Pakistan Party (IPP).
Additionally, with one member from the Muslim League-Zia, the National Party, and the BAP, along with four independent legislators, backing the government.
The opposition has 89 seats in the lower house of parliament.
In the Senate, the ruling coalition commands 61 members, while the opposition has 35.
To pass an amendment in the upper house, the government needs a two-thirds majority—a total of 64 votes. Sources suggest that the government will need the support of at least three senators from either the Jui-F or the ANP to reach this threshold.
