ISLAMABAD: The federal government will present once again the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate today after revising the earlier draft Upper House approved this week. The session of the Senate will begin at 11 am.
A day earlier, the National Assembly passed the amendment bill with 234 votes in favour and four against, despite an opposition walkout. The latest version carries eight new amendments not included in the Senate-approved draft, mainly to clarify the chief justice’s position and refine the structure of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
The amended bill removes multiple oath-related clauses and adds new provisions defining judicial hierarchy and expanding the powers of the FCC.
Key Changes Introduced by the National Assembly
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Article 6 (High Treason): Clause 2 now explicitly includes the Federal Constitutional Court.
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Article 10 (Preventive Detention): A new Clause 2A adds the words “Supreme Court” in the explanatory section.
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Oath-related Clauses (4, 19, 51, 55): Deleted from the Senate version, these had sought to replace “Chief Justice of Pakistan” with “Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court” in various constitutional oaths.
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Article 176: A proviso ensures that the incumbent Chief Justice will continue to be known as the Chief Justice of Pakistan during his term.
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New Clause 56: Defines the Chief Justice of Pakistan as “the senior among the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”
Major Highlights
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Federal Constitutional Court to be formally established with equal provincial representation.
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Chief of Army Staff to assume the title Chief of Defence Forces.
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Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, and Admiral of Fleet titles to remain for life.
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President and Prime Minister to share roles in judicial appointments.
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Presidential immunity limited if the president holds any public office after tenure.
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Judicial Commission empowered to transfer high court judges, with Supreme Judicial Council to review objections.
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FCC authorised to take suo motu notice on petitions.
Political Context
The government comfortably secured the two-thirds majority required in the 336-member National Assembly, supported by coalition parties including the PML-N (125 seats), PPP (74), MQM-P (22), PML-Q (4), IPP (4), and one seat each from the PML-Z, BAP, and NPP.
The JUI-F, once allied with the ruling PML-N, opposed the bill, with its four lawmakers voting against.
Earlier, when the bill was passed by the Senate, PTI’s Saifullah Abro and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan had broken party ranks to support the legislation. Both have since resigned or been asked to step down, raising questions about whether the government retains enough votes to secure Senate approval again.
