Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah has indicated that the government is preparing to bring the 28th Constitutional Amendment to parliament “very soon,” expressing confidence that the legislation will secure the required support once it is formally presented.
Talking to reporters in Chiniot on Monday, Sanaullah said the proposed amendment centres on critical areas such as local governments, the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, and public health. He noted that consultations on these matters have already begun at various levels, and the government will proceed once a broader consensus is achieved.
His comments come shortly after the ruling PML-N-led coalition passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which introduced significant changes to the country’s judicial and military structure. Under that amendment, the Chief of Army Staff now simultaneously holds the title of Chief of Defence Forces, placing the military’s command hierarchy under a single authority. Additionally, senior military ranks such as Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of the Fleet have been designated as lifetime titles.
Another major restructuring includes the creation of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), a new judicial body with equal representation from all provinces. The FCC will have the power to take up matters through suo motu on petitions, while several powers previously held by the Supreme Court will shift to this new institution. The president and prime minister will also play a more defined role in judicial appointments under the revised framework.
Commenting on the recent resignations of two Supreme Court judges and a Lahore High Court judge, Sanaullah maintained that parliament is fully empowered to amend the Constitution, while judges are bound by oath to uphold it. He criticised the outgoing judges for involving themselves in political disputes, saying their decisions to resign appeared driven by “personal motives.”
Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah had stepped down last week, calling the 27th Amendment a serious attack on the country’s constitutional order. The federal government, however, dismissed their remarks as political statements. Days later, LHC judge Shams Mehmood Mirza also resigned in protest against the amendment.
