ISLAMABAD: Legal experts across the country are sounding the alarm over the government’s push for the 27th Constitutional Amendment — a move that they say carries far-reaching consequences for judicial independence, provincial autonomy and the balance of power within Pakistan’s constitutional framework.
Although the draft amendment has not been made public, its key contours have surfaced through officials familiar with the matter. At the centre of the proposed changes is the creation of a powerful federal constitutional court, which would hold authority over the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the Supreme Judicial Council. Senior lawyers warn this could effectively shift the judiciary’s internal checks into the hands of a politically influenced structure, fundamentally altering the chain of accountability.
The amendment reportedly also seeks to restore executive magistracy, grant the federal government broader control over the transfer and posting of judges, and potentially dilute provincial financial protections under the NFC Award. Legal scholars argue that such steps echo a gradual rollback of the 18th Amendment — widely seen as a milestone for provincial empowerment.
Veteran lawyer Muhammad Akram Sheikh cautioned that these reforms could trigger a prolonged confrontation between the judiciary and the executive, describing them as an “unmistakable encroachment upon judicial autonomy.” Former additional attorney general Tariq Mehmood Khokhar said the proposal was a clear extension of the 26th Amendment, designed to consolidate the executive’s influence over judicial appointments and oversight.
Critics also question the timing. They point out that the federal government has not suffered any major legal setbacks since the passage of the 26th Amendment, raising doubts about the urgency to pursue further structural changes. “What problem is this amendment trying to solve?” one senior counsel remarked, highlighting concerns about the political motivations behind the initiative.
With the government preparing to table the amendment soon, a broader debate is intensifying over whether Pakistan is headed toward institutional strengthening — or a recalibration of power that undermines the independence of key democratic pillars.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.