Govt to table 27th Constitutional Amendment bill in NA today after Senate approval

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is set to present the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the National Assembly today (Tuesday), a day after it was passed by the Senate with the required two-thirds majority despite a walkout by opposition lawmakers.

According to the National Assembly’s agenda issued late Monday night, the session will begin at 11am, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar scheduled to table the bill for approval.

The 59-clause amendment, approved by the Senate on Monday, proposes sweeping changes to the country’s military and judicial structures.

The bill, moved by Law Minister Tarar, was passed with 64 votes in favour in the 96-member upper house, while opposition members boycotted the proceedings and tore up their copies of the bill in protest.

Apart from treasury senators, the bill was supported by members of the Awami National Party (ANP), PTI-backed Senator Saifullah Abro, and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan. In a surprise turn, Abro opted not to join the opposition’s walkout and later announced his resignation from the Senate.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hailed the bill’s passage as a “historic moment,” noting that many of its key provisions, such as the creation of a Constitutional Court were originally envisioned in the Charter of Democracy signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in 2006.

Dar said the amendment also modifies Article 243, clarifying that the title of Field Marshal had never previously existed in the Constitution.

He lauded Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir as a “national hero” following Pakistan’s recent conflict with India and assured lawmakers that the seniority of judges, including the Chief Justice, would remain unaffected by the proposed reforms.

He added that the constitutional changes aim to strengthen judicial independence and improve governance, in line with the government’s pledge to introduce the bill first in the Senate before moving it to the lower house.

Meanwhile, scenes in the National Assembly on Monday were marked by heated exchanges between treasury and opposition benches, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the session until 11am today (Tuesday).