ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and former Senate chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Tuesday cautioned that the government’s proposed constitutional changes could effectively reverse key aspects of the landmark 18th Amendment, which devolved significant powers from the federation to the provinces.
Rabbani’s statement came a day after reports emerged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had reached out to its coalition partner, the PPP, seeking support for the passage of a proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. The move has drawn criticism from legal experts and political figures, who view it as an attempt to roll back provincial autonomy enshrined in the 18th Amendment of 2010.
“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. He warned that in the current fragile political climate, tampering with provincial powers could “cast deep shadows over the federation.”
“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,” former senator Raza Rabbani proposed.https://t.co/ZJhZhpHBVu
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 4, 2025
Rabbani further argued that the 18th Amendment had neutralised extreme nationalist narratives by empowering provinces, and cautioned that revisiting it could “lend vigour to extra-constitutional activities.” He also noted that restoring devolved ministries would impose a heavy financial burden on the federal government and run counter to the principle of participatory federalism.
“If the federal government is unable to manage its finances, then let the provinces collect all taxes and fund federal expenditures through the Council of Common Interests,” the veteran politician suggested.
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Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik confirmed that discussions regarding the proposed amendment were ongoing but clarified that no formal draft had yet been prepared.
The PPP has consistently opposed any attempts to alter the 18th Amendment. Rabbani, who played a central role in its passage, has repeatedly warned successive governments against measures that might undermine provincial autonomy.
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