Pakistan's proposed 28th Amendment could extend government tenure beyond five years

The draft 28th Constitutional Amendment being discussed in Islamabad includes provisions that would allow the federal government's term to be lengthened beyond the constitutionally mandated five‑year period, with language describing a flexible or open‑ended tenure.

The same package also outlines conditions under which general elections could be postponed—such as war, severe economic instability or major natural disasters—and contains other changes to the 18th Amendment framework, including revisions to the National Finance Commission award, reallocation of subjects like education and health to the federal level, creation of federally administered cities, modifications to the Governor’s Rule mechanism, and possible abolition of the Benazir Income Support Programme. The proposals remain at a conceptual stage, have not been formally tabled, and are prompting debate among politicians and legal experts. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has responded to some aspects of the proposal.