Cabinet session delayed due to Prime Minister’s engagements
Islamabad — The scheduled meeting of Pakistan’s federal cabinet to approve the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has been postponed due to the busy schedule of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, officials said on Thursday.
Sources confirmed that the prime minister has already begun consultations with coalition partners on the proposed amendment, which includes several politically sensitive clauses. The decision to delay the meeting comes amid efforts to secure consensus among ruling allies before presenting the amendment in Parliament.
MQM-P expresses conditional support
According to government insiders, Shehbaz Sharif held a detailed meeting with a delegation from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P). During the discussion, the prime minister assured the delegation that their proposals regarding the local government system would be incorporated into the 27th Amendment.
Following this assurance, MQM-P signaled conditional support for the amendment, a key development since the party’s backing is crucial for maintaining the coalition’s fragile parliamentary majority.
Key provisions of the proposed amendment
The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill reportedly includes several major structural changes. Among them are:
The creation of a Constitutional Court to interpret constitutional matters.
The appointment of seven judges to this new court.
An increase in the judicial retirement age to 68 years.
The establishment of a new post titled Commander of Defence Forces.
Analysts note that these proposals, particularly the creation of a separate constitutional court, could significantly alter Pakistan’s judicial framework and balance of power between institutions.
PPP rejects most provisions
However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a major coalition partner, has rejected most parts of the proposed amendment. After a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told reporters that his party would only discuss the proposed change to Article 243, which concerns the command structure of the armed forces.
He firmly stated that the PPP would not accept any clause that affects the provincial share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award or interferes with provincial fiscal autonomy. Any attempt to alter financial rights of the provinces will be resisted, Bilawal declared, adding that the party’s stance on the rest of the amendment is clear and uncompromising.
Political implications and next steps
The ongoing discussions indicate deep divisions within the coalition government over the constitutional package. Observers believe that while the government hopes to project the amendment as a reform initiative, disagreements over power distribution between the center and provinces could delay or derail the bill.
The cabinet is expected to reconvene once further consultations with coalition partners are completed. Until then, the fate of the 27th Amendment remains uncertain — a reflection of Pakistan’s complex political balancing act between institutional reform and coalition management.
