ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The political debate over the government’s proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment intensified on Friday as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari both warned against any attempt to undermine provincial autonomy or reduce provinces’ share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party would strongly oppose any clause in the proposed amendment that sought to curtail the powers granted to provinces under the 18th Amendment.
“The provinces have a constitutional right to an increased NFC award, not a reduced one,” he said, adding that if provincial rights were curtailed, the JUI-F “would resist it with full force.”
The JUI-F chief noted that no draft of the 27th Amendment had yet been presented and that his party would issue a detailed response only after reviewing the text.
He recalled that during the 26th Amendment process, the government had withdrawn 35 clauses after parliamentary consultations, stressing that “no such undemocratic practices should be repeated.”
Fazl also cautioned that any amendment to Article 243 — concerning the command of the armed forces — must not be used to influence democratic or political structures. “If such changes are administrative in nature, we will review them, but if they affect democracy or the Constitution, we will not accept them,” he said.
Criticising the government’s overreliance on state institutions, Fazl said, “Nothing is being resolved because the country depends too much on one institution. Until we adopt collective thinking, nothing will improve.” He urged dialogue among parliament, security committees, and all stakeholders to ensure consensus-based lawmaking.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, drew a clear red line against any change to the NFC formula or the rollback of provincial autonomy. Announcing the CEC’s decisions at a late-night press conference, Bilawal said the PPP “can never compromise on the financial rights of the provinces.”
“The PPP rejects the proposal for constitutional protection of the provinces’ share,” he declared. However, the party agreed in principle to support limited amendments to Article 243 related to the federal command structure of the armed forces.
Bilawal explained that the government had proposed new positions, including that of a Field Marshal, the Joint Chiefs’ re-designation, and the creation of a Strategic Command role. “Only these administrative changes the CEC has allowed me to support,” he clarified.
On the proposed establishment of a Constitutional Court, Bilawal said the party had not yet taken a final stance and would continue internal deliberations before making any commitment.
Both PPP and JUI-F leaders emphasised that any amendment process must follow the example of the 18th Amendment — passed through months of consensus-building — rather than rushed negotiations. Fazl said there were no current plans for his party to meet PPP leadership over the issue but agreed that “constitutional amendments must strengthen, not weaken, the federation.”
