ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The government has finalised its plan to have the 27th constitutional amendment approved by the end of current month. The draft amendment has been shared with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the government has sought its cooperation. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated on X that a delegation from the ruling PML-N, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, met with President Asif Ali Zardari and himself to discuss support for the 27th amendment. Proposed changes include the establishment of constitutional courts, restoration of executive magistrates, provisions for the transfer of judges, removal of provincial quota protections in the NFC, and amendments to Article 243 concerning the armed forces. The proposals also suggest transferring education and population planning back to the federal government and introducing measures to resolve appointment deadlocks within the Election Commission. Bilawal announced that the PPP Central Executive Committee would meet on November 6 to decide the party’s stance. Article 243 of the Constitution pertains to the Pakistan Armed Forces, stating that command and control shall rest with the federal government, while the president, under law, may raise and maintain the army, navy, and air force and appoint their commissions. The president appoints the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and service chiefs in consultation with the prime minister. DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, in an informal talk with journalists in Rawalpindi, said that changes to the military structure fall under the government’s discretion and are made through consultation. Decisions regarding military-related amendments rest with the government and parliament, while the armed forces can only offer input. Article 160 (3A), which safeguards provincial shares in the NFC Award, is also proposed to be amended. Currently, it ensures that a province’s share cannot be reduced from its previous award—a clause seen as a hurdle in reforming the financial commission. Amendments to Article 191A propose the creation of permanent constitutional courts, while Article 200 addresses the transfer of judges. Revisions to Articles 213 (2A) and (2B) aim to break deadlocks in appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and members of the Election Commission.