ISLAMABAD: The session of the Senate will resume at 3:30 pm to take up for approval the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill. The Amendment Bill will be presented in the Senate today. Following extended speeches and opposition interruptions, the upper house took a break to resume further proceedings at 3:30 pm.
According to the session’s agenda, Senator Farooq H. Naek was scheduled to present the committee’s report on the bill, though the document had yet to be tabled. The session opened with speeches that were left undelivered the previous day. PML-N Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani defended the proposed constitutional court, arguing it would address the backlog of cases in the Supreme Court. He criticised the opposition, particularly the PTI, for “weakening democracy” during its tenure.
PPP Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro also defended the amendment, rejecting opposition claims that it was a “9/11 on Pakistan.” He said the constitutional court would reinforce judicial independence and strengthen the federation, adding that amendments to Article 243—granting immunity to the field marshal—were justified by the need to honor national heroes.
Opposition Voices Strong Objections
PTI Senator Fawzia Arshad raised procedural concerns, noting that an opposition leader had not yet been appointed in the Senate. She denounced the amendment, claiming that “institutions are being trampled and their rights taken away.” Meanwhile, MQM-P Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti expressed disappointment over unfulfilled promises to amend Articles 142 and 140-A, stating those changes might now be deferred to the 28th Amendment.
Opposition and Government Contrasting Views
Outside Parliament, PTI Senator Ali Zafar vowed that the opposition would block the amendment if the government lacked sufficient votes. He condemned proposed immunity for top officials, stating that “no one should be above the law.”
Ataullah Tarrar, Federal Minister for Information, nevertheless, defended the 27th Constitutional Amendment. He said the heads of state worldwide enjoy immunity and that the amendment would strengthen governance and federal unity.
Federal Ministers Azam Tarrar and Khawaja Asif claimed that the number game was complete and the Senate will approved the amendemtn bill today.
