27th Amendment Bill Under Discussion in Senate

ISLAMABAD: The Senate session has started to discuss the parliamentary committee’s report on the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, with Presiding Officer Manzoor Ahmed in the chair. The bill proposes major changes to Pakistan’s judicial system and military structure, including the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court and granting lifetime immunity to the president.

Senator Farooq H Naek, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, is presenting the committee’s report. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will move the bill for consideration and passage. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed confidence that the government has enough support in the Senate to pass the amendment.

Opposition parties, including PTI, JUI-F, PkMAP, and MWM, have vowed to protest and block the bill, rejecting provisions that grant immunity to top officeholders. PTI Senator Ali Zafar said no one should escape accountability for crimes, including the president or governors.

The committee has approved key amendments, including extending the time for pending cases from six months to one year and establishing constitutional courts. Some proposals, such as renaming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and increasing Balochistan’s provincial assembly seats, are pending further discussion.

Key Features of the 27th Amendment:

• Creation of Chief of Defence Forces as head of armed forces
• Chief of Army Staff to assume the role of Chief of Defence Forces
• Lifetime titles for Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, Admiral of Fleet
• Prime Minister appoints National Strategic Command commander on Chief of Defence Forces’ recommendation
• Establishment of Federal Constitutional Court with equal provincial representation
• President and Prime Minister to influence judicial appointments
• Supreme Court powers reduced, with some authority transferred to the new court
• Term of Federal Constitutional Court chief justice limited to three years
• President granted lifetime immunity from criminal cases

The session is expected to be crucial, with opposition protests and government efforts to pass the amendment shaping the debate.