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ISLAMABAD: In a scathing critique of the government’s proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, former chairman Senate and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Raza Rabbani warned on Tuesday that the move could signal the final unravelling of the hard-won gains of the 18th Amendment. The proposal, which seeks to re-centralise powers from the provinces back to the Centre, represented a stark reversal of the decentralisation championed by the 18th Amendment in 2010, Rabbani argued. He warned that the amendment would not only undermine the principles of federalism but also risk triggering a new political crisis in the country’s already fragile landscape. The 18th Amendment was a watershed in the country’s political history, devolving key ministries like education, health, and population to the provinces and ensuring provincial needs were no longer dictated by Islamabad. With the 18th Amendment, the provincial autonomy, which had been a long-standing demand, was no longer a matter of choice, it became a constitutional guarantee. Yet, less than a decade after the passage of this landmark amendment, the government now seemed poised to reverse it. Rabbani’s remarks came as whispers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) influence in the amendment gained traction. In his statement, Rabbani minced no words, declaring the proposed 27th Amendment a “rollback” that would shift the balance of power back to the Centre and strip the provinces of their hard-earned autonomy. “This is a dangerous political gamble,” Rabbani warned. “Provincial autonomy is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s federal structure, and tampering with it could have far-reaching consequences.” The former Senate Chairman was unequivocal in his stance: the guarantees enshrined in the 18th Amendment were non-negotiable. He reminded his critics that the battle for provincial autonomy had been hard-fought, and any attempt to undermine it would only deepen Pakistan’s internal divisions. “It is not just about decentralising power,” he emphasised. “It is about recognising the diversity of this country and respecting the aspirations of its people. You cannot impose one-size-fits-all policies on a country as diverse as Pakistan.” Rabbani’s opposition was not rooted in theory alone; as one of the key architects of the 18th Amendment, he had seen firsthand the potential dangers of diluting federalism. He reflected on his emotional vote in 2015 for the controversial 21st Amendment, which had established military courts in Pakistan. At the time, he had been torn between national security concerns and his commitment to democratic principles. “I cast that vote with a heavy heart,” he recalled. “But compromising on the principles of the 18th Amendment? That is a price I am not willing to pay.” He proposed an audacious idea: full tax collection powers should be devolved to the provinces, allowing them to manage both local expenditures and federal responsibilities through the Council of Common Interests (CCI). This, he argued, would not only reinforce the concept of participatory federalism but also create a more equitable and functional system – one in which provinces would have genuine control over their finances, policies, and futures. Rabbani’s warning was clear: the 18th Amendment was not just a political victory, but a cornerstone of Pakistan’s pluralism and democracy. Dismantling it, he cautioned, could cost the country dearly for generations to come. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
