PM Shehbaz takes political parties into confidence over proposed 27th amendment
PM shares amendment draft with MQM-P delegation: Proposed changes include constitutional court, amendment in Article 243, NFC revisions: PML-Q delegation led by Ch Salik Hussain and IPP leaders led by Abdul Aleem Khan also call on PM to discuss amendments
As the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) continues its consultations with coalition partners to secure support for the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a delegation from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.
According to the report, the meeting focused on discussions regarding the draft of the amendment and MQM-P’s possible inclusion in the initiative.
During the meeting, the MQM-P delegation presented its own proposals and reservations concerning the amendment, outlining conditions under which it might extend its support.
The 24NewsHD TV channel reported earlier that the prime minister had decided to hand over a draft of the amendment to the MQM-P and take the party into confidence before moving the bill in parliament.
Following internal consultations, the MQM-P is expected to announce whether it will support or oppose the proposed changes.
Separately, a delegation of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) led by Aleem Khan also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's House.
In the meeting, the PM Shehbaz Sharif took the IPP leadership into confidence regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
According to the channel report, a delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) led by Chaudhry Salik Hussain also met the Prime Minister on Thursday.
According to sources, the Prime Minister took the Muslim League-Q into confidence on the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The prime minister had also met with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on November 3 to seek his party’s backing for the same amendment.
According to Bilawal’s post on X, a PML-N delegation led by PM Shehbaz had called on President Asif Ali Zardari and him to request the PPP’s cooperation in passing the amendment.
Bilawal stated that the federal government’s proposed 27th Amendment contains a number of significant constitutional reforms.
He said these amendments include the creation of a constitutional court, the restoration of executive magistrates, provisions concerning the transfer of judges, and amendments to Article 243 relating to the armed forces.
He added that the draft also proposes removing provincial share protections in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, transferring education and population planning powers back to the federal government, and introducing measures to resolve deadlocks in appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The government’s outreach to coalition allies indicates that it intends to move forward with wide-ranging constitutional adjustments that could reshape the balance of power between the federation and the provinces.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday held separate meetings with key political leaders to discuss and consult on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The prime minister met the MNAs namely Khalid Hussain Magsi, President of the Balochistan Awami Party and Federal Minister for Science and Technology; Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar; Member National Assembly Ijaz-ul-Haq of Pakistan Muslim League (Zia); Member National Assembly Mir Pullen Baloch of the National Party; and Awami National Party President Senator Aimal Wali Khan along with Senator Umar Farooq, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah also attended the meetings.
The discussions focused on building consensus and ensuring broad-based consultation on the proposed constitutional amendment aimed at strengthening democratic governance and institutional harmony.
Reporter: Awais Kiyani