Senate Passes 27th Constitutional Amendment amid Opposition Walkout
The Senate on Monday approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority, as 64 lawmakers voted in favour of the legislation during a key session marked by an opposition walkout.
The bill, presented by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, was passed through clause-by-clause voting. Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani read out each amendment for approval, with all 59 clauses endorsed individually.
According to Aaj News, JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan and PTI’s Saifullah Abro participated in the voting process. While 64 votes endorsed the bill, two senators opposed the first clause, prompting opposition members to protest before walking out.
Key Features of Amendment
Presenting the parliamentary committee’s report, Senator Farooq H. Naek said the amendment covers major reforms, including:
- Establishment of a federal constitutional court
- Changes to the judicial appointment process
- Inclusion of provincial representation
- Fixing the tenure of high court judges at five years
- Addition of a technocrat representative to the Judicial Commission
- Counting judges’ seniority from the date of appointment, while existing Supreme Court seniority remains unchanged
Treasury senators endorsed the amendment, saying a constitutional court would help reduce the Supreme Court’s case backlog and strengthen democracy and constitutional rule.
The bill was introduced last week and grants constitutional protection to certain officials, permits the transfer of high court judges, and proposes other significant constitutional reforms.
Opposition Rejects Bill
Opposition parties strongly rejected the proposed amendment, both at the time of introduction and during Monday’s session. Some senators, including Ali Zafar and Hamid Khan, argued against fast-tracking the legislation, while others urged more deliberation.
Government’s Position
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied any political stalemate, asserting that constitutional reform is essential for good governance, stronger federation-province relations, and national defence.
He noted that the proposal reflects global best practices and confirmed that an earlier clause concerning prime-ministerial immunity had been withdrawn. However, Tarar said the president’s immunity mirrors international norms.
The minister added that the debate over constitutional courts dates back to the 2006 Charter of Democracy and that similar reforms under the 26th Amendment have improved judicial efficiency.
Senate Debate Highlights
During Sunday’s detailed discussion:
- Senator Talha Mehmood called the amendment necessary for judicial reform and strengthening national defence
- Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan urged constructive debate in the national interest
- Senator Dr Afnan Ullah Khan criticised the opposition for creating division
- Senators Azam Swati and Mohsin Aziz cautioned against rushing the process