PARLIAMENT NEWS
ISLAMABAD: The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill is scheduled to be introduced in the Senate today (Monday), following its endorsement — with minor revisions — by the joint parliamentary committee on law and justice.
The federal government had earlier unveiled the proposed amendment, which outlines significant changes to the judicial framework and adjustments to the military command structure. Its initial presentation in the Senate last week prompted strong protests from opposition lawmakers.
Key elements of the bill include the creation of a federal constitutional court, permanent immunity for the president, and lifetime status for the rank of field marshal.
According to the Senate Secretariat’s agenda for November 10, the amendment is listed among the primary legislative items.
During the session, Senator Farooq H. Naek, who heads the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, will present the committee’s report on the Constitution (27th Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Agenda items 44 and 45 provide for immediate consideration and potential approval of the amendment, with Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar set to move the bill for debate and passage.
Speaking to the media after Sunday’s committee meeting, Senator Naek confirmed that the draft had been cleared, noting that some changes were incorporated based on new proposals. He added that the core structure of the amendment remained intact and that he, along with Minister Tarar, had been authorised to finalise any remaining modifications.
The meeting, jointly chaired by Senator Naek and MNA Mehmood Bashir Virk, was attended by multiple lawmakers, including Senators Tahir Khalil Sindhu, Hidayatullah, Shahadat Awan, and Zamir Hussain Ghumro, as well as MNAs Ali Haider Gillani, Saira Afzal Tarar, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Syed Naveed Qamar, and Abrar Shah. Senior officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice, including Law Secretary Raja Naeem Akbar, were also present.
Opposition parties boycotted the proceedings. Members of PTI, JUI-F, PkMAP, and MWM were absent, drawing criticism from committee members, who argued that opposition participation was essential in a constitutional process of this scale.
Sources indicated that the Awami National Party (ANP) voiced reservations over certain provisions and sought the renaming of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The proposal was deferred pending further consultations. Similarly, the Balochistan Awami Party’s request to increase seats in the provincial assembly was also postponed. Both issues are expected to be revisited in meetings on Monday.
The committee approved changes to Article 243, backing the formation of constitutional courts, and supported an amendment extending the maximum period for deciding pending cases from six months to one year. Under the revised clause, cases that remain dormant for a full year will automatically stand disposed of.
It was also learned that the ANP, objecting to parts of the amendment, declined an invitation to a dinner hosted by the prime minister.
Article 243 currently places supreme command of the armed forces with the president, while operational control remains with the federal government.
Read more: https://nayakashmir.com/key-cabinet-session-on-27th-constitutional-amendment-scheduled-for-today/
