Former Senate chairman and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Raza Rabbani has strongly cautioned the federal government against introducing the 27th Constitutional Amendment, warning that it could roll back the provincial autonomy under 18th Amendment — a milestone reform that strengthened Pakistan’s federal structure.

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Rabbani said that in the current fragile political climate, “playing with provincial autonomy will cast deep shadows over the Federation.” He stressed that the provincial autonomy under 18th Amendment had helped unite the nation by addressing long-standing grievances of smaller provinces.

The proposed 27th Amendment, put forward by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), seeks to create a Constitutional Court and make significant changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. It also aims to amend Article 243, which deals with the supreme command of the armed forces, along with other key constitutional provisions.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier disclosed details of the government’s proposal, which also includes reintroducing executive magistrates, transferring judges, and removing protections related to provincial shares in the NFC Award.

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Rabbani argued that such changes could reopen old wounds and reignite nationalist sentiments. “The 18th Amendment disarmed the extreme nationalists of a political discourse; this amendment will lend vigour to their extra-constitutional activities,” he warned.

The veteran politician further noted that reviewing devolved ministries would increase the federal government’s financial burden. “Recalling the financial devolution will be against the scheme of participatory federalism,” he said, suggesting that if Islamabad cannot manage its finances, provinces should be allowed to collect taxes directly and manage federal expenditures through the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have also voiced strong objections. PTI lawyer and former secretary general Salman Akram Raja described the amendment as “extremely dangerous,” saying it could undermine judicial independence and alter the Constitution’s basic structure.

However, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah dismissed the criticism, insisting that the government’s move was being unnecessarily dramatized. 

Sanaullah assured that no constitutional amendment would be made without consensus, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already spoken twice with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to ensure provincial input. He also highlighted that the formation of a constitutional court was part of the Charter of Democracy, agreed upon by major political parties years ago.