27th Amendment: Senate takes up much-debated bill today as ruling allies approve draft

#27th #Amendment #Senate #takes #muchdebated #bill #today #ruling #allies #approve #draft

ISLAMABAD: A day after the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with minor modifications, the bill will be introduced in the Senate today (Monday).

Last week, the federal government introduced a 27th constitutional amendment bill in the Senate amid protests from opposition parties, proposing sweeping changes to the country’s judicial system as well as the military command structure.

Establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court and permanent immunity to the President, as well as lifelong status to the rank of field marshal, are among the key features of the bill.

The Senate Secretariat has issued the orders of the day for November 10, including key legislative business.

After the recitation, Senator Farooq H Naik, Chairman Standing Committee on Law and Justice, will present the Committee Report on the Bill to amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. [The Constitution (27th Amendment) Bill, 2025].

Agenda Items 44 and 45 relate to moving the Constitutional Amendment Bill, as directed by the House Standing Committee for consideration and passage together. Law and Justice Minister Prime Minister Nazir Tarar will move the bill for consideration and passage.

Speaking to the media after the meeting a day ago, Senator Farooq H. Naik said that the draft of the 27th amendment has been approved, adding that “some adjustments were made after incorporating fresh proposals during the meeting.”

Senator Naik said the basic draft of the amendment had been approved, adding that “a few changes were added”, while the committee authorized him and Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar to finalize the remaining amendments.

The meeting chaired by Senator Naik and MNA Mahmood Bashir Work was attended by Senator Tahir Khalil Sindhu, Senator Haidaullah, Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Zameer Hussain Ghomero, Ali Haider Gulani, Sira Afzal Tarar, Bilal Azar Kunai, Bilal Azri, Bilal Azar, Bilal. Secretary Law Raja Naeem Akbar and senior officials of the Ministry of Law and Justice also participated in it.

Opposition parties boycotted the meeting. Members from PTI, Jaffa, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) and Majlis Wahdat-Muslimeen (MWM) did not attend.

Committee members lamented the boycott, saying the opposition should have participated in such an important constitutional process instead of distancing itself from it.

Sources said that the Awami National Party (ANP) expressed reservations about the draft. Its proposal to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was shelved after the government sought more time for consultations.

Similarly, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) proposal to increase the seats in the provincial assembly was also postponed for further consideration.

Both matters are expected to be finalized after additional talks on Monday.

After detailed consideration, the committee also approved the amendment of Article 243 of the Constitution and ratified the provision for establishment of constitutional courts.

Further, the committee approved an amendment to extend the decision of pending cases from six months to one year. Under the new provision, no case shall be pursued for one year.

It is learned that the Awami National Party (ANP) raised objections to the 27th constitutional amendment and refused to attend the Prime Minister’s dinner.

Currently, Article 243 of the Constitution vests the President of Pakistan with the supreme command of the armed forces, while stipulating that their control and command shall remain with the federal government.