Parliamentary Committee Approves Draft of 27th Constitutional Amendment
The joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and National Assembly on Law and Justice has approved amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution, clearing the path for the establishment of constitutional courts and other significant reforms..
The decision comes after extensive deliberations on the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. A final decision on additional proposed amendments is expected by Monday.
During the session, government coalition partners submitted three new amendments, while the Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also presented their proposals. The government requested more time to review ANP’s proposal to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the amendment seeking to increase Balochistan’s provincial assembly seats. Both proposals will be reconsidered before the final decision.
The committee endorsed the clause granting lifelong immunity to the president and approved provisions related to the formation of constitutional courts. It also approved an amendment extending the timeframe for deciding pending cases from six months to one year, with cases showing no progress for a year considered disposed of.
Chaired by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the committee reached consensus on the core draft of the 27th Amendment. The meeting was adjourned for the Maghrib prayer, after which final decisions will be made on presidential immunity and the proposals from coalition partners.
Speaking to reporters, Tarar said the work on the 27th Amendment is nearly complete, with discussions continuing on later proposals. He noted that the renaming of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and suggestions from the MQM and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) are under review and will be discussed with party leaderships.
It is important to note that constitutional amendments require a separate two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament—64 votes in the Senate and 224 in the National Assembly. Opposition benches in the Senate, currently holding 30 members, are expected to oppose the amendment.