The political temperature in Pakistan reached a boiling point on November 8, 2025, as the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) unleashed a wave of criticism against the government’s proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. Labeling the bill a "conspiracy against the Constitution," PTI leaders declared their refusal to participate in the parliamentary committee set up to review the amendment, igniting a fierce debate about the future of Pakistan’s democratic framework and the independence of its judiciary.
Senator Ali Zafar, a leading voice within PTI, minced no words in his condemnation of the amendment. Speaking to Dawn, Zafar asserted, "The proposed 27th Amendment is nothing short of a conspiracy against the Constitution. The entire process is being carried out in haste, without consultation or deliberation, in complete disregard of democratic norms and parliamentary traditions." He warned that the changes "strike at the very foundation of the constitutional structure by undermining the independence of the judiciary and eroding the delicate balance of powers that the 1973 Constitution so carefully created." According to Dawn, Zafar’s concerns reflect a broader anxiety within PTI that the amendment could irrevocably alter the balance of power in Pakistan’s political system.
Salman Akram Raja, PTI’s Secretary General, echoed these sentiments in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He described the amendment as a "ploy to enslave us," warning, "Subjugating the Supreme Court to a new court, whose judges will be the favorites of the current Form 47 government, is to turn the judicial system into an instrument of coercion." Raja’s pointed remarks, reported by Dawn, captured the party’s deep-seated fears about judicial independence and the potential for political manipulation of the courts.
Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser took the argument a step further, questioning the very legitimacy of the current parliament. "We will use all possible tactics and platforms, including protest, to stop the legislation. I believe that fresh elections should be held before any such legislation because the current government is a Form-47 government and it does not have the mandate of the people," Qaiser told Dawn. He emphasized that PTI leadership would soon convene to devise a comprehensive strategy to resist the proposed amendment, signaling the likelihood of escalating political confrontation in the days ahead.
At the heart of PTI’s objections lies the process—or, as they see it, the lack thereof. Senator Zafar pointed out that the draft of the 27th Amendment contains as many as 50 separate changes, yet these were not shared with the public or subjected to the kind of broad-based consultation that characterized previous constitutional amendments. "Civil society, legislators and other stakeholders discussed the draft of the 18th Amendment for over a year and gave their recommendations and proposals, but this time efforts were being made to pass the amendment in haste," Zafar lamented. He further noted, "It was unfortunate that the spirit of the 1973 Constitution was being changed, and the PPP is supporting it."
The procedural concerns raised by PTI are not without precedent in Pakistan’s constitutional history. The 18th Amendment, passed in 2010, was the product of extensive deliberation involving a wide array of stakeholders, including opposition parties, civil society organizations, and provincial representatives. By contrast, the current amendment’s rapid progression through parliament—without meaningful engagement with opposition parties like PTI—has drawn accusations of executive overreach and disregard for democratic traditions.
Despite PTI’s boycott, the legislative process has moved forward. On November 8, 2025, the bill was formally tabled before the Senate and referred to the standing committees on law and justice for review, as reported by Dawn. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani subsequently directed that both the National Assembly and Senate standing committees could hold joint sessions for a detailed review, with a report to be presented before the House. Deliberations were adjourned until Sunday, November 9, 2025, leaving the future of the amendment hanging in the balance.
The substance of the proposed 27th Amendment is sweeping. According to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the changes include the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court, modifications to the process for appointing high court judges, adjustments to the threshold for provincial cabinets, and alterations to the military leadership structure. Other proposed changes involve the creation of executive magistrates, the transfer of judges, the removal of protections for the provincial share in the National Finance Commission (NFC), amendments to Article 243 (which governs military command), the return of education and population planning to federal jurisdiction, and efforts to break the deadlock over appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). These details, outlined by Dawn and The News, underscore the far-reaching implications of the amendment for Pakistan’s constitutional order.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought to build consensus among the government’s ruling allies. On November 6, 2025, he consulted with leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan Awami Party, Awami National Party (ANP), and PML-Zia. However, conspicuously absent from these discussions was any engagement with PTI, a fact noted by both Dawn and The News. This omission has only deepened PTI’s sense of exclusion and fueled their claims of a government acting without a true mandate.
For many observers, the current standoff has laid bare the deep fissures within Pakistan’s political landscape. On one side, government supporters argue that the amendment is necessary to modernize the Constitution and resolve longstanding institutional bottlenecks. On the other, PTI and its allies warn of an existential threat to the country’s democratic foundations, judicial independence, and provincial autonomy. The stakes could hardly be higher.
As the standing committees prepare to reconvene, all eyes are on Islamabad. Will the government push the amendment through, risking further polarization and protest? Or will the mounting pressure from PTI and civil society force a rethink, opening the door to broader consultation and compromise? The coming days will be critical in determining which path Pakistan chooses—and whether the 27th Amendment becomes a turning point in the nation’s constitutional history.
For now, Pakistan stands at a crossroads, with its political future and constitutional integrity hanging in the balance.
