27th Constitutional Amendment Bill Presented in National Assembly

Islamabad: The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was presented in the National Assembly on Tuesday during a session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the bill and explained its key points during the session.

Speaking in the House, the Law Minister said that constitutional amendments are always made through consultation and majority support. He noted that, around the world, constitutional cases are usually heard by special constitutional benches, and in many countries, judges are appointed through judicial commissions.

Azam Nazeer Tarar said that it was decided through consensus to establish Federal Constitutional Courts, which would help in the speedy disposal of constitutional cases. He added that these courts would include representation from both the federation and provinces.

The minister informed the assembly that the Senate had already passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority. He expressed his wish that members of the opposition had also been part of the consultation process.

Explaining further, the Law Minister said that the powers of the Supreme Court to take suo motu notices have been reviewed, and a new procedure has been introduced to ensure accountability and balance. He remarked that in the past, some suo motu cases even affected the country’s economy and that the new system would bring more fairness and order.

Azam Nazeer Tarar said that around 60,000 cases are currently pending in the Supreme Court that are supposed to be heard by high courts. With the establishment of constitutional courts, the Supreme Court will be able to focus more on cases related to ordinary citizens.

He clarified that the current Chief Justice is the most senior judge in rank, and in future, only senior-most judges will be appointed as Chief Justice. Both the Judicial Commission and the Supreme Judicial Council will be headed by the senior-most judges of the respective courts. In case of disagreement on appointments, the matter will be referred back to the Judicial Commission.

The Law Minister also explained that the Senate is not dissolved and that elections are held every three years for half of its members. He mentioned that in the past, Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were delayed by one year and two months due to political reasons.

Azam Nazeer Tarar concluded that the 27th Amendment aims to make the judicial system more transparent, balanced, and efficient, ensuring better coordination between institutions and faster justice for the public.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Rejects 27th Constitutional Amendment

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan strongly opposed the 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying that his party does not accept the bill passed by the National Assembly.

Speaking during the assembly session, Barrister Gohar said that the Constitution is a sacred responsibility, but today that responsibility was “betrayed.” He said PTI had believed that the new amendment would help strengthen the judiciary, but instead, it has weakened democratic principles.

He expressed deep concern, calling the day “a day of mourning for democracy.” According to him, the government has taken “a step forward in burying democracy” by approving this amendment.

Barrister Gohar also criticized the approval process, claiming that the head of a nuclear-armed state approved the amendment while sitting in Baku, referring to it as the “Baku Amendment.”

He questioned the constitutional immunity of the president, saying, “In which country of the world does the president enjoy such immunity?” He added that true democracy means being accountable to the people, not hiding behind privileges or exemptions.

Barrister Gohar concluded that the 27th Amendment represents a setback for democratic values and judicial independence in Pakistan.

PPP Leader Shazia Marri Comments on Assembly and Parliamentary Process

Moreover, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri shared updates on party discussions and parliamentary developments, highlighting the role of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. According to Marri, Bilawal consulted party members through messages on X (formerly Twitter), informing them that the Prime Minister sought PPP’s support. After internal consultations, he held a media briefing to explain the party’s position.

Shazia Marri noted that the bill under discussion has already been approved by the Senate and is now presented in the National Assembly. She criticized the previous PTI government, saying it undermined parliamentary powers and did not respect democratic processes.

Marri also reflected on the PTI era, claiming that some lawmakers and speakers did not properly understand legislative procedures, often asking bills to be “read and understood” without proper scrutiny. She questioned the legality of the assembly’s dissolution on April 3, saying the Deputy Speaker was used to dissolve the assembly unconstitutionally.

Marri emphasized that the assembly, formed through the votes of the people, should be accountable to the law and the citizens of Pakistan, criticizing the extra-constitutional actions taken against it.