Islamabad: The federal government has decided to formally present the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate tomorrow (Friday), officials confirmed on Thursday. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will table the draft amendment during the upper house session, marking the start of an accelerated legislative process.
Fast-Tracked Parliamentary Process
After its introduction, the bill will be referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice for detailed scrutiny. The committee will hold special weekend sessions to review each clause before submitting its report to the Senate on Monday. The government aims to secure final approval of the amendment by November 14, sources said.
Officials added that the National Assembly will take up the amendment immediately after the Senate review. To ensure maximum participation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has suspended all foreign visits of ministers and lawmakers, directing them to remain in Islamabad for the upcoming proceedings.
Consensus-Building Among Coalition Partners
Political consultations have intensified, with Prime Minister Shehbaz holding meetings with coalition allies, including the PPP, MQM-P, ANP, PML-Q, and BAP, to secure broad support for the amendment. Discussions are also covering the situation in Afghanistan and ongoing defence-related reforms.
Key Provisions of the Amendment
According to sources, the draft includes measures to revive executive magistracy, revise the NFC Award, and streamline local government elections. It also proposes a new process for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner, defines the tenure of caretaker governments, and establishes a Constitutional Court.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that consultations were underway to amend Article 243, related to the command and functions of the armed forces. He emphasized that evolving defence needs required updated legal frameworks.
The government insists there is no plan to roll back the 18th Amendment, stressing that the objective is to align the Constitution with modern governance, judicial, and defence requirements.
