National Assembly passes 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill amid opposition's walkout
by Waqas Jawaid- Govt makes eight amendments to Senate-approved bill.
- PTI boycotts voting process, JUI-F members vote against.
- PM Shehbaz congratulates lawmakers on bill’s passing.
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill on Wednesday amid an opposition walkout, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulating lawmakers on approving the legislation.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill — which was passed with 234 votes in favour and four against — that seeks to change the judicial structure and military command. It included eight amendments — not part of the version earlier approved by the Senate — aimed at clarifying the chief justice’s position.
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), repeating its course of action during today’s session, walked out and did not partake in the voting. Some opposition tore up the copies of the bill.
However, four members from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), once a close ally of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), were the only lawmakers to register their votes against the amendments.
The government introduced four changes and removed the same number. The term “Federal Constitutional Court” has been added to Clause 2 of Article 6 of the Constitution. The word “Supreme Court” has been inserted in Article 10 of the Constitution.
Moreover, Article 176 has been amended, stipulating that the incumbent chief justice will remain Chief Justice of Pakistan until the completion of the current term. Clause 2 of Article 255 has been amended to address the appointment of the Chief Justice of Pakistan after the current term.
Clarifying the situation further, the law minister mentioned that the senior-most among the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court will be designated as Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Highlights of new amendment
- Chief of Army Staff to assume role as Chief of Defence Forces
- Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, Admiral of Fleet titles to remain for life
- Incumbent chief justice to remain CJP until completion of current term
- Senior-most among SC CJ and FCC CJ will be designated Chief Justice of Pakistan
- Federal Constitutional Court to be established
- Equal provincial representation approved in Federal Constitutional Court
- FCC empowered to take suo motu notice upon petitions
- President and prime minister to play a key role in judicial appointments
- Presidential immunity limited if president assumes any public office after tenure
- Judicial Commission to decide transfer of high court judges
- Objections on transfers to be reviewed by Supreme Judicial Council
The multi-clause amendment bill required a two-thirds majority in the 336-member House. The ruling coalition easily secured the required votes, with the PML-N holding 125 seats, the PPP 74, the MQM-P 22, the PML-Q four, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party four, and one seat each held by the PML-Z, the Balochistan Awami Party, and the National Peoples Party.
Interesting, in the Senate, the government’s legislation secured votes from two opposition lawmakers. PTI’s Saifullah Abro and JUI-F Ahmed Khan backed the bill, and while Abro announced his resignation as a lawmaker on the same day, Khan was asked by his party to step down for violating party lines.
'Remarkable unity'
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing the National Assembly, said that the House had demonstrated remarkable unity on this occasion. He reminded members that the Charter of Democracy clearly stated the intention to establish a constitutional court.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to CJP Afridi and said he had requested the chief justice to ensure that revenue-related cases were resolved swiftly. “By the grace of Allah, revenue cases have now been decided on merit,” he remarked.
PM Shehbaz further said that the chief justice would continue to head the Supreme Judicial Council, the Judicial Commission, and the Law and Justice Commission. Referring to the conferral of the Field Marshal title on the army chief, he said that the entire nation had welcomed the decision.
He emphasised that any measure which weakens the federation, no matter how seemingly beneficial, cannot serve Pakistan’s interests. The prime minister added that extensive consultations had taken place on the 27th Amendment, which had now become part of the Constitution.
'No suo motu from now'
Speaking on the NA floor ahead of the passage, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that following the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the judiciary will no longer have the authority to take suo motu actions.
He noted that the PPP and PML-N had faced the "consequences" of suo motu powers, especially during the tenure of former CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry.
“We have witnessed prime ministers and ministers being humiliated under the pretext of suo motu. The judiciary even used this authority to regulate the prices of tomatoes and potatoes," Bilawal added.
"We have seen a Chief Justice use this power to initiate a dam project. But from now on, there will be no suo motu."
The PPP chairman said that the 26th Constitutional Amendment was passed with maximum consensus, a process he said reflected the spirit of democratic cooperation. He added that Maulana Fazlur Rehman played a key role in engaging PTI and other opposition parties to build agreement on the amendment, even seeking their approval for participation in the vote.
Bilawal said that the previous constitutional change created constitutional benches instead of a constitutional court, as the then-chief justice could not assume the court’s leadership. "This time, through the 27th Amendment, we are establishing a proper constitutional court," he stated, adding that the reform would further strengthen the judicial system.
He also condemned the recent wave of terrorist attacks, urging political parties and citizens to stand united against the threat of extremism. “We may have political or ideological differences, but the entire nation must unite against terrorism,” Bilawal said, adding that militants were once again attempting to destabilise the country.
He recalled that Pakistan’s military, civil society, and citizens had previously defeated terrorism through immense sacrifices, asserting that the country would “once again overcome the menace.”
“Pakistan achieved what the entire world could not in Afghanistan — defeating terrorists on our own soil,” Bilawal remarked, paying tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives for peace.
The PPP chairman also revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz had decided to appoint the army chief as field marshal as part of the government’s efforts to enhance the country’s defence structure. He said the post of field marshal would be constitutionally protected under Article 243, alongside other defence-related amendments soon to be introduced.
“Constitution-making derives its strength from consensus,” Bilawal noted, recalling that the 1973 Constitution was passed with unanimous agreement among all parties, while the 18th Amendment was enacted after PML-N and PPP jointly defeated dictatorship and restored democracy.
Opposition alliance chief tears up bill’s copy
PkMAP and TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, while addressing the National Assembly, said that the current government had been formed on the basis of Form-47.
He remarked that there was a person in the House who had lost by 6,000 votes, yet was offered a seat but refused. “Another person also turned down the same offer,” Achakzai, the chief of the opposition alliance, added. He questioned whether such a parliament, formed under these circumstances, had the authority to amend the Constitution.
During the session, Achakzai tore up a copy of the 27th Amendment Bill in protest.
He said that efforts were being made to block the path of public rule in Pakistan, expressing sorrow over what he described as an undemocratic amendment to the Constitution. The struggle between democratic and non-democratic forces in Pakistan was ongoing, he added.
Achakzai further questioned why, if the PTI founder Imran Khan was considered good or bad, he was allowed to become the prime minister in the first place.
“The country’s top judiciary stripped one party of its election symbol, yet PTI managed to contest under different symbols and still transformed the political landscape,” he said.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also spoke on a point of order, saying that his party had made every possible effort to participate in the negotiations.
He alleged that PTI’s MNAs had been removed from the Parliament House and recalled that on November 26, several of their members were martyred. “We have stood with Pakistan and will always stand with Pakistan,” Barrister Gohar asserted.
He further claimed that their chief minister was not being allowed to meet his leader.
NA speaker reiterates dialogue offer
During the session, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq once again offered opposition parties to hold dialogue with the government.
"As speaker of the National Assembly, I am ready to facilitate negotiations between the government and the opposition. If both sides sit together, solutions will emerge," he added.
The NA speaker reiterated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had repeatedly invited the opposition for talks, offering to facilitate dialogue to find solutions.
"Even if nothing comes out on the first day, continuing talks will yield results. My role is to bring the government and opposition to the negotiation table," said Sadiq.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, while replying to the NA speaker's dialogue offer, said the party “never gave up on dialogue”.
'Bill can be tabled in Senate again'
While talking to the media earlier today, the law minister said voting on the amendment will take place in the House today.
“If any changes are needed, the bill can be presented in the Senate. If there is any ambiguity, it is better that it is discussed.”
“Only the parliament has the power to amend the Constitution. The constitutional court cannot rewrite it,” he added.
Info minister slams PTI
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticised the opposition for rejecting the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, accusing them of “selective memory” and “double standards.”
Referring to speeches made by opposition members, Tarar said it appeared they “could not recall anything before 2022” — the year former prime minister Khan was ousted.
He accused the PTI of accepting “fascism” when in power but opposing parliamentary procedures now. “When Parliament — the highest institution — tries to pass a constitutional amendment through legal means and consultation, they have a problem with it,” he said.
"This selective morality, selective justice, double standards — what exactly is their politics other than this?” Tarar questioned.
Tarar accused PTI’s Shehryar Afridi of failing to suggest any "improvements" to the proposed amendment and criticised the party for constantly raising the Form-47 issue after the 2024 general elections.