News Desk:
Islamabad, November 6, 2025 — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday engaged in a series of consultations with delegations representing several political parties, as the government seeks to build consensus and lay groundwork for the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), it was stated that the meetings centered on deliberations and discussions regarding the proposed amendment, which aims to introduce significant structural and governance reforms in the country’s constitutional framework.
Among the visiting delegations, a seven-member team from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P), led by Convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, held detailed talks with the prime minister. The delegation comprised Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, and MNAs Dr. Farooq Sattar, Jawed Hanif Khan, Syed Aminul Haque, and Khawaja Izharul Hassan.
Senior cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Adviser Rana Sanaullah, also attended the session.
The same government leaders participated in the prime minister’s subsequent meetings with delegations from the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League–Quaid (PML-Q).
According to a separate PMO communiqué, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Aun Chaudhry met the premier and exchanged views on the proposed constitutional changes.
Another PMO release stated that a PML-Q delegation, led by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, also conferred with the prime minister. The delegation included Senator Kamil Ali Agha and MNAs Mohammad Ilyas Choudhary and Farukh Khan.
MQM-P Emphasizes Empowerment of Local Governments
A day earlier, the MQM-P had underscored the need for the 27th Constitutional Amendment to ensure greater autonomy for local governments (LGs). The party argued that following the 18th Amendment, which devolved powers to the provinces, the logical next step is local empowerment.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Farooq Sattar reminded that the MQM-P had made similar demands during the 26th Amendment deliberations, urging inclusion of provisions to strengthen LG systems — in line with the March 2024 memorandum of understanding between the MQM-P and PML-N. However, those clauses were ultimately excluded from the final draft.
Sattar proposed that Article 140A of the Constitution — which mandates the establishment of local governments by the provinces — should be revised to provide constitutional protection and legislative independence to local bodies. “The Constitution is a living instrument,” he remarked, “and it should evolve with changing times to safeguard governance and political stability.”
MQM-P Convener Dr. Siddiqui also endorsed the establishment of constitutional courts and suggested amending Article 243, which pertains to the command of the armed forces, to align it with contemporary defence requirements and national unity.
He further proposed that nazims and mayors be recognized as constitutional officeholders with defined tenures, and that their elections be overseen by the Supreme Court to ensure transparency, continuity, and democratic accountability at the local level.
