ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the 27th Amendment in the Senate on Monday, following a consensus reached with coalition allies.
Prior to this, the joint standing committees on law and justice from both the Senate and the National Assembly submitted their report on the proposed amendment. Senator Farooq H. Naek tabled the report during the afternoon session.
Assuring that no governmental stalemate existed, the Law Minister stated that the ruling party had adequate support in the Senate and confirmed that voting would commence once all members were present.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), however, announced its opposition to the 27th Amendment. Senator Kamran Murtaza raised concerns about being excluded from the amendment review process and pledged to oppose it alongside Senator Ali Zafar. Both criticized the procedural approach for circumventing broader parliamentary input and cautioned against potential negative consequences for Pakistan.
In contrast, Senator Faisal Vawda praised the Prime Minister’s efforts in fostering democracy through the amendment, claiming it would strengthen national defense. Similarly, Emil Wali Khan expressed faith in the Prime Minister’s dedication to accountability. Federal Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the amendment’s procedural completion and expressed optimism about its approval in the Senate.
The joint parliamentary committee concluded its draft, comprising 49 clause-specific amendments. Key revisions included provisions for new consultations under Article 243, approval for establishing constitutional courts, and an extension of case review timelines from six months to one year. Cases not acted upon within a year would automatically be deemed closed.
According to sources, opposition parties such as PTI, JUI, PKMAP, and MWM collectively boycotted the committee meeting. Meanwhile, amendments proposed by government allies remain under negotiation. For instance, the ANP has proposed renaming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government assured the ANP that their concerns would be addressed and requested additional time to evaluate increasing assembly seats in Balochistan, with a decision anticipated soon.
Senator Farooq H. Naek, chair of the joint law and justice committee, noted that certain amendment approvals had been delegated to him and the Law Minister for further review.
