ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of both the houses of parliament on Law and Justice has approved the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment with some changes, after extensive deliberations paving the way for its presentation in the Senate session today (Monday).
The report of the approved constitutional amendments is expected to be presented in the Senate today (Monday).
Talking to the media after the meeting, Senate Committee on Law and Justice Chairman Senator Farooq H Naek said that the 27th Amendment draft had been approved, adding that “some adjustments were made following the incorporation of fresh suggestions during the meeting.”
Senator Farooq H Naek said the basic draft of the amendment has been approved, adding that “some changes have been incorporated” while the committee has authorised him and Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar to finalise the remaining amendments.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Farooq H Naek and MNA Mehmood Bashir Virk, was attended by Senator Tahir Khalil Sindhu, Senator Hidayatullah, Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Ali Haider Gillani, Saira Afzal Tarar, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Syed Naveed Qamar and Abrar Shah. Law Secretary Raja Naeem Akbar and senior officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice also participated.
The opposition parties boycotted the meeting. Members belonging to the PTI, JUIF, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) did not attend.
The committee members expressed regret over the boycott, saying that the opposition should have taken part in such an important constitutional process instead of distancing itself from it.
The meeting was held in two sessions. In the first, members approved amendments to Article 243 and reviewed other constitutional provisions. After a short break, the committee resumed its deliberations and, after more than two hours of discussion, gave final approval to the complete draft of the 27th Amendment, which will now be presented in the Upper House as a committee report.
According to sources, the joint committee formally approved the cabinet-cleared draft of the 27th Amendment, endorsing all 49 clause-wise changes. The final report will be presented in parliament on Monday, while proposals submitted by coalition parties will be reviewed again before tabling.
Sources said the Awami National Party (ANP) expressed reservations about the draft. Its proposal to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was deferred after the government sought more time for consultations.
Similarly, the proposal by the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) for increasing provincial assembly seats was also postponed for further consideration.
Both the matters are expected to be finalised after additional discussions on Monday.
The committee also approved amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution following detailed deliberations and endorsed the clause establishing constitutional courts.
Furthermore, the committee approved an amendment extending the period for adjudication of pending cases from six months to one year. Under the new provision, any case not pursued for a year will be deemed disposed of.
The Awami National Party (ANP) raised objections to the 27th Constitutional Amendment and declined to attend the prime minister’s dinner, it was learnt.
Currently, Article 243 of the Constitution entrusts the President of Pakistan with the supreme command of the armed forces, while stipulating that their control and command shall rest with the federal government.
The federal government, a day earlier, presented a bill of the 27th Constitutional Amendment — proposing sweeping changes to the country’s judicial system as well as the military command structure — in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed that the proposed constitutional amendment tabled by a few senators from the PMLN, regarding immunity for the prime minister, be withdrawn immediately.
In a post on his X handle, the prime minister said that as a matter of principle, an elected prime minister must remain fully accountable, both before the court of law and people.
Shehbaz Sharif said on his return from Azerbaijan, he was informed that some senators belonging to his party have submitted an amendment regarding immunity for the prime minister. The prime minister, while acknowledging their intent in good faith, said the proposal was not a part of the cabinet-approved draft.
Meanwhile, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has also declined to get immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution. During the joint meeting of Senate and National Assembly’s Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice on Sunday, a proposal was presented suggesting that constitutional officeholders such as the Chairman Senate and the Speaker National Assembly may also be granted immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The proposal was moved by Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Mahmood Bashir Virk. He maintained that since the offices of the Chairman Senate and Speaker National Assembly are constitutional in nature, they should, in principle, enjoy similar immunity as accorded to the governors under Article 4 of the Constitution.
The rationale behind this suggestion, according to Bashir Virk, was to ensure parity and legal protection for constitutional functionaries performing critical roles within the parliamentary structure. However, when this proposal was brought to the notice of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, he categorically declined to endorse any such privilege. The Speaker maintained that no individual, regardless of position or office, should stand above the law. He emphasized that accountability and transparency are cornerstones of democratic governance and that the public’s trust in institutions depends on the personal integrity of its representatives. “I am, first and foremost, a representative of the people and an office-bearer only afterward. I do not seek, nor will I ever accept, any form of immunity,” said Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The speaker reiterated his unwavering belief that all public officeholders must remain answerable to the Constitution, the rule of law, and citizens who have entrusted them with their mandate. He added that leadership carries an obligation of service and responsibility, not privilege or protection.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators on Sunday voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes in the Constitution through the 27th Amendment.
Senate Chairperson Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over Sunday’s proceedings, which were held to mull over the proposed constitutional tweaks.
Speaking on the floor of the House, PTI Senator Ali Zafar reaffirmed his party’s strong opposition to the proposed amendment, warning that altering the Constitution was akin to “tampering with the foundation of a building”. He likened the nation to a building, saying the government’s actions were “weakening its very foundation”.
The PTI leader expressed dismay over the pace at which the government was pushing for the proposed amendment, saying that constitutional amendments took a long time even when the country was “under dictatorships”.
Senator Zafar rejected the proposed amendment which, according to him, was introduced by a parliament with no “genuine public support”. “This so-called parliament does not have the authority to amend the Constitution,” he said.
The PTI leader criticised the proposed judicial reforms, warning they would reduce the Supreme Court judges to the level of Supreme District and Sessions Court judges.
Senator Zafar cautioned that the proposed judicial appointment process could threaten the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
Speaking on the floor of the Upper House of parliament, PTI Senator Hamid Khan described the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment as an attempt to “bury the Constitution.”
Khan emphasized the importance of consensus before any change was brought forward.
Calling the 26th Amendment “the death of the Constitution,” he said that the 27th Amendment represented an effort to “bury it completely”.
“The 26th and 27th amendments are a matter of national shame,” he said, warning that if the judicial system collapsed, “citizens would have nowhere to go for their rights.”
Senator Khan asserted that those who vote in favour of the amendment “would not be able to justify their actions in history,” adding that the move has “destroyed the judicial system and distorted the Constitution”.
Hamid Khan, who is a founding leader of PTI, said that constitutional amendments are never brought like this; first a consensus is reached. He acknowledged the PPP duly gets the credit for the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
He pointed out that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took every opposition party into confidence in making the 1973 Constitution. The SIC legislator further said that the Constitution was first ‘destroyed’ by Zia-ul-Haq and then by Pervez Musharraf, whereas the 26th Amendment was the death of the Constitution and the 27th is an attempt to bury it.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PMLN) Senator Pervaiz Rashid dismissed PTI leaders’ criticism of the amendments, saying they showed “only the perspective that suited” them.
“Judicial independence enjoyed today was not achieved through the efforts of the judiciary, but through the struggles of the country’s political activists,” he said. He added that the judiciary took undue advantage of its independence.
Referring to PTI lawmakers’ speeches, Senator Rashid said that the opposition appeared to have agreed to all other proposals for the amendment except the judicial reforms.
The PMLN leader wished PTI members had taken part in committee discussions to voice their opinion.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Members of the Senate belonging to the PMLN and government’s allies to a dinner reception at the PM House here on Sunday and expressed his thanks to them for their cooperation in the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment by parliament.
The prime minister observed that all the allied parties of the government preferred to support the national interests. “ We are thankful to President Asif Ali Zardari and heads of all the allied parties,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister hosted a reception following approval of draft of the 27th Constitutional amendments by a joint standing committee of two houses of the parliament on Sunday.
The prime minister pointed out that the government and it allies made collective efforts for approval of the 27th amendment in the Constitution in the larger national interests, for strengthening of the federation, improving harmony among the provinces and governance.
“What diplomatic successes Pakistan achieved are due our unity and harmony among all the allied parties”, he said adding that it was due to collective efforts that Pakistan had risen to a higher status at the international level.
Shehbaz Sharif flanked by the Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and former prime minister Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that Pakistan was moving in the right direction because of economic and political stability. “We have to endeavour together for progress and prosperity of the country,” he said.
