Govt tables 27th Amendment bill in NA following Senate approval of key reforms
According to the NA agenda released late Monday, the session will begin at 11am, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar scheduled to present the bill for approval.
The 59-clause amendment, passed by the Senate on Monday, aims to overhaul the country’s military and judicial structures.
The bill, moved by Law Minister Tarar, secured 64 votes in the 96-member House, with no votes against it, as opposition lawmakers boycotted the session and tore up their copies in protest.
Apart from treasury members, the bill also received support from ANP senators, PTI-backed Saifullah Abro, and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan.
In a surprise move, Abro refrained from joining the protest and later announced his resignation from the Senate.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called the bill’s passage a “historic moment”, noting that several key provisions, including the creation of a Constitutional Court, had been envisioned in the Charter of Democracy signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in 2006.
Dar added that the amendment also modifies Article 243, confirming that the title of Field Marshal had never previously existed in the Constitution.
He praised Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir as a national hero following Pakistan’s recent conflict with India, and assured lawmakers that the seniority of the chief justice and other judges would remain unaffected by the proposed reforms.
He added that the constitutional changes were aimed at strengthening judicial independence and improving governance, in line with the government’s earlier commitment to introduce the bill first in the upper house.
Highlights of new amendment
1. Chief of Army Staff to assume role as Chief of Defence Forces
2. Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, Admiral of Fleet titles to remain for life
3. Federal Constitutional Court to be established
4. Equal provincial representation approved in Federal Constitutional Court
5. FCC empowered to take suo motu notice upon petitions
6. Islamabad High Court to have one judge on FCC bench
7. President and prime minister to play a key role in judicial appointments
8. Supreme Court powers to be reduced, with some authorities shifted to the new court
9. Presidential immunity limited if president assumes any public office after tenure
10. Judges must serve five years in high court for eligibility of Constitutional Court
11. Judicial Commission to decide transfer of high court judges
12. Objections on transfers to be reviewed by Supreme Judicial Council
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