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A delegation of PML-Q led by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, November 6, 2025. — INP
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday stepped up efforts to secure coalition support ahead of the federal government’s push for the 27th constitutional amendment.
Plans for the proposed amendment were confirmed on November 3, when Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Balwal Bhutto-Zadriari said a delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Prime Minister Shehbaz, sought his party’s support in approving the amendment.
Later, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the amendment was “in the works”, while assuring lawmakers on the floor of the Senate on November 4 that Parliament would debate the proposals before sending them to committee.
In the latest round of political engagements, the prime minister held several meetings in Islamabad to build consensus on the proposed changes.
A seven-member Mutahida Qaumi Tehreek-e-Pakistan (MQM-P) delegation met the Prime Minister in Islamabad today, where they discussed the proposed amendment.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz assured the delegation of supporting his proposals for the Local Government Act in the 27th Amendment.
The Premier also met the delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Isthkam Pakistan Party (IPP).
Later, a Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) delegation – including Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi and Senator Manzoor Kakar – called for increasing Balochistan’s representation in the provincial and national assemblies under the proposed amendment.
Muslim League-Z chief Azizul Haq and National Party MNA Mir Plein Baloch also discussed the matter with the Prime Minister.
So far, proposals for the 27th Amendment include the establishment of a Constitutional Court and an amendment to Article 243, which addresses the control and command of the armed forces.
Other proposals include appointment of executive magistrates, transfer of judges, removal of provincial share protection in NFC awards, return of education and population planning to the federation, and appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rejected the draft, warning that the amendment would harm judicial independence and provincial autonomy.
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser said any attempt to change the NFC award could lead to “national instability”, while also opposing the establishment of a constitutional court.
Earlier, PTI had challenged the 26th constitutional amendment in the court.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar clarified that the government has no plans to tamper with the 18th Amendment, saying there is no major hurdle in tabling or approving the 27th Amendment.
Speaking on Geo News’ program “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ki Seth”, the minister said the proposals included one by Muslim League-Q chief Chaudhry Shajat Hussain, who had suggested that education be done under the federation.
Tarar emphasized the importance of a uniform national policy on education and population across the country.
The minister also supported the establishment of a constitutional court, saying discussions on the proposal had been ongoing for several years.
Tarar said the restoration of the magisterial system — a structure that once functioned in the country — was also among the proposals.
Meanwhile, he said the government would take the matter to the cabinet after the PPP central executive committee meeting.
Official numbers in Parliament
The Muslim League-N-led government currently enjoys the support of 237 members in the National Assembly, where 224 votes are needed for constitutional amendments.
The ruling coalition includes 125 members from the Muslim League (N), 74 from the PPP, 22 from the MQM-P, five from the Muslim League-Q and four from the IPP, along with one member from the Muslim League-Zia, BAP, and the National Party, plus four independent candidates.
In the Senate, the coalition has 61 members, with 64 votes needed to pass the amendment.
The 26th Amendment passed the National Assembly last year with 225 votes, and the Senate with 65 votes — just one more than the required threshold in each chamber.
