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Rabbani Warns 27th Amendment Could Erode 18th and Provincial Autonomy
PPP’s Raza Rabbani warns that the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment could roll back the 18th Amendment, undermining provincial autonomy. Says “playing with provincial rights will cast deep shadows over the federation.”
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-04
Rabbani Warns 27th Amendment Could Erode 18th and Provincial Autonomy

Veteran PPP leader and former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani on Tuesday strongly criticised the government’s proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, warning that the suggested changes could effectively reverse the 18th Amendment — a key reform that devolved powers to the provinces.

The remarks came a day after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) confirmed that it had been approached by its coalition partner, the PML-N-led federal government, for support on the amendment. The proposal has already sparked widespread concern among lawyers, politicians, and provincial leaders, who fear it would erode the autonomy guaranteed to provinces under the 18th Amendment.

“The proposed constitutional amendments of the federal government, with reference to provincial autonomy, amount to a rollback of the 18th Amendment,” Rabbani said in a statement.

Passed in 2010, the 18th Amendment was hailed as a milestone in strengthening the federation by transferring key ministries — including education and population welfare — from the Centre to the provinces.

Rabbani cautioned that tampering with the delicate balance of federalism could have far-reaching political repercussions.

“In the brittle internal political situation, playing with provincial autonomy will cast deep shadows over the federation,” he warned.

He further observed that the 18th Amendment had “disarmed extreme nationalists of a political discourse,” but any attempt to dilute it would “lend vigour to their extra-constitutional activities.”

The former Senate chairman also warned of the financial implications of re-centralising devolved ministries, arguing that it would burden the federal government and contradict the spirit of participatory federalism.

“Recalling the financial devolution will be against the scheme of participatory federalism,” he said. “If the federal government is unable to manage its finances, then let the provinces collect all the taxes and look after federal expenditures through the Council of Common Interests (CCI).”

Government’s Response
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik confirmed that discussions on the proposed amendment are ongoing but said no formal draft has been finalised yet.

Even in December 2023, senior PPP leaders reiterated their opposition to any changes to the 18th Amendment — a stance that continues to place the party at odds with its coalition ally, the PML-N.

Rabbani, who played a pivotal role in formulating the 18th Amendment during his Senate tenure, has consistently defended its provisions. In 2019, he accused the then PTI government of conspiring to roll back the amendment, and in 2015, he famously broke down in tears after voting for the 21st Amendment establishing military courts, saying he had voted against his conscience.

As debate intensifies over the 27th Amendment, Rabbani’s warning underscores the growing unease among political stakeholders about preserving provincial rights and federal balance achieved through the landmark 18th Amendment.
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