Islamabad: The 27th Constitutional Amendment has been introduced in the National Assembly, spearheaded by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The Amendment, which has already received approval from the Senate, outlines significant changes to the judicial and defense structures of the nation.
According to Radio Pakistan, the amendment proposes the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court, ensuring equal representation for all federating units, as outlined in the Charter of Democracy. The Islamabad High Court will also be represented in this new court, which will focus on constitutional matters and interpretation, with its permanent seat in Islamabad.
The Law Minister elaborated that the president may transfer high court judges based on recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. Chief justices from both involved high courts will participate in this process. Additionally, the amendment stipulates that the President will appoint military chiefs based on the Prime Minister’s advice. The office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be dissolved by November 2025, with new roles defined for senior military ranks.
Furthermore, the amendment shields the president and governors from criminal proceedings during their terms, though this protection does not extend post-presidency if they hold public office. Extensive discussions were held on this amendment within relevant standing committees, and the Law Minister expressed gratitude to coalition partners for their contributions.
During the discussion, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted the significance of empowering local governments, in line with the 18th Constitutional Amendment, to enhance democracy. Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal supported this stance.
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani emphasized the amendment’s role in bolstering defense and governance, acknowledging the sacrifices of security forces in combating terrorism. Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Danyal Chaudhary stressed the importance of the federal constitutional court for swift justice delivery, criticizing the opposition’s stance on constitutional and parliamentary matters.
Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh called for a charter of economy to foster sustainable growth, commending the proposed constitutional changes. The session also paid homage to the late Senator Irfan Siddiqui with a fateha prayer.
The National Assembly is scheduled to reconvene at 11 a.m. tomorrow.