Pakistan's '28th Amendment' Looms: Insiders Hint at Major Constitutional Overhaul Despite Official Denials

Whispers of a potential '28th Amendment' are circulating within Pakistan's political circles, suggesting a significant shift in the country's constitutional landscape, even as ruling parties attempt to downplay the possibility. Dawn reports that while leaders like Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar have feigned ignorance or promised consultation, insiders from both the PPP and PML-N acknowledge that major constitutional changes could be on the horizon.

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While publicly, the PML-N has been at pains to point out that there is no such thing as the “28th Constitutional Amendment” in the offing, the matter of nomenclature seems to be more semantic than substantial.

The core of the concern lies in the potential re-centralization of powers, particularly in areas like curriculum, population welfare, and mines and minerals, which were devolved to the provinces under the landmark 18th Amendment in 2010. While the official stance is that there's no plan to completely roll back the 18th Amendment, the proposed legislative package, whatever its nomenclature, is feared to significantly curtail the financial autonomy and control provincial governments currently enjoy over key portfolios.

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But yes, there are definitely a few things on our radar: the provinces’ financial space, control over certain ministries, and, obviously, the federal government shifting the financial burden of BISP onto the provinces.

From the perspective of the PPP, a party that championed the 18th Amendment, there's a palpable sense of unease. Leaders, speaking anonymously, express that while nothing concrete has been shared, the "grapevine" suggests that the provinces' financial space and control over certain ministries might be impacted. There's also apprehension about the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award potentially being altered, leading to a reduced share for the provinces.

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Not sure about other areas, but these three [curriculum, population welfare, and mines and minerals] will definitely be taken away.

This potential move towards re-centralization is particularly sensitive in Pakistan, where the balance of power between the federation and the provinces has always been a delicate issue. The 18th Amendment was seen as a crucial step towards strengthening provincial autonomy and addressing historical grievances. Any perceived attempt to reverse these gains, even partially, could reignite political tensions and raise questions about the federal government's intentions and respect for the constitutional framework that emerged from a broad consensus. The debate over the '28th Amendment' is thus not just about legislative details but about the fundamental structure of Pakistan's federal system.

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There is also a lot of noise about the NFC Award and the provinces’ share, which is likely to be cut.