ISLAMABAD:
The PML-N-led federal government on Tuesday formally presented the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the National Assembly, amid strong protests from opposition members. The vote on the bill is scheduled for today (Wednesday).
The session, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, began with prayers for PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who passed away on Monday. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar then moved the motion to introduce the bill. As he began his speech, PTI lawmakers entered the house and started shouting slogans against the bill.
Tarar said the appointment of judges through wider forums is an international practice and extensive consultations took place before the amendment was tabled. He noted that the Senate had already adopted the amendment by a two-thirds majority.
He said Article 184 of the Constitution had “appeared like a monster” as a result of a suo motu abuse of power, and that the Charter of Democracy originally provided for the creation of a constitutional court.
He said two major political parties had agreed on the amendments in the spirit of the Charter of Democracy, and the new Constitutional Court would now have the same powers as the existing constitutional chambers of the Supreme Court.
The amendment, he added, also provides for a procedure for transfer of judges of the High Court. Tarar said the aim of the amendment was to ensure that the Supreme Court had more time to hear cases of public interest.
He said the Chief Justice of Pakistan will continue to head the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) and other constitutional forums until further changes are made.
The law minister also revealed that the amendment constitutionally protects the rank of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, granted in recognition of his professional excellence, and any decision to withdraw the title could only be taken by a joint session of Parliament.
He added that the President of Pakistan would enjoy lifelong immunity under Article 248, although this immunity would not apply to holding public office after retirement.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly opposed the amendment, saying “constitutional changes should strengthen democracy, not bury it.” He said the amendment would weaken the judiciary instead of empowering it, adding: “Today is a day of mourning for democracy.”
Calling it the “Baku Amendment,” he claimed it was adopted under foreign pressure and accused the government of using the amendments to grant itself immunity from liability.
Gohar warned against dragging the army into political conflicts, saying: “Don’t politicize the army or put it in the dock: it has been protecting this country since 1947.”
He stressed that the PTI remained loyal to Pakistan and respected the armed forces, but rejected what he called “dishonest manipulation” of the Constitution.
MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal said his party’s suggestions regarding local governments were not included in the 27th Amendment but would be part of the upcoming 28th Amendment Bill.
He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet for accepting the principle of empowering local bodies, stressing that “without empowered local governments, democracy cannot function effectively.”
Senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif also emphasized decentralization of power, saying democracy cannot flourish until authority is transferred to the local level.
He said military and civilian governments have historically centralized power, ignoring the spirit of the 18th Amendment, which promised true local accountability.
Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani defended the 27th Amendment, saying its main objectives were to strengthen governance, defense and institutional functionality.
He referred to Tuesday’s attack near the courts in Islamabad’s G-11 district, which killed four people, saying it underlined that Pakistan remained “a nation at war” against terrorism and extremism. Kayani said the armed forces, police and security agencies sacrifice their lives for national security.
He noted that 15 percent of the Supreme Court’s cases are constitutional in nature but consume 50 percent of its time, justifying the creation of a separate constitutional court. He criticized the opposition for ignoring parliamentary committees and “opting instead for television studios”.
The minister added that under the 18th Amendment, powers should have been devolved to lower levels of government and in future, the NFC award should be linked to provincial financial awards to ensure equitable distribution of resources.
The National Assembly session was adjourned until 11 a.m. today, when voting on the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill is expected to take place.
