ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of Parliament on Monday passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill clause by clause amid uproar from opposition members.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar moved the motion for the bill’s approval. Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani chaired the Senate session with various lawmakers expressing their views on the amendment.
During the session, clauses 5 to 13 of the amendment were passed by an overwhelming majority. Sixty-four senators voted in favour of the amendments, including PTI Senator Saifullah and JUI Senator Ahmed Khan. Clauses 8, 9, and 11 were approved with a two-thirds majority, while clause 10 received 64 votes in favour and none against.
According to the Senate chairman, no clause of the amendment faced opposition in the House. However, opposition members staged a walkout. JUI’s Senator Ahmed Khan and PTI’s Saifullah Abro remained present during the session.
During the clause-by-clause passage of the bill, government members termed it a significant step toward constitutional stability, while the opposition maintained that the amendment introduces an imbalance between the powers of the judiciary and the legislature.
Sources said that after the approval of all clauses, the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill will now be sent to the National Assembly for final approval.
The report of the Parliamentary Committee on the 27th Constitutional Amendment was earlier presented in the House by Committee Chairman Senator Farooq H Naek.
Bilawal Bhutto’s statement
Chairman of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto, stated that the adoption of the twenty-seventh amendment marks a victory for the people.
He emphasized that their long-standing demand has been for the establishment of a constitutional court in the country. Highlighting a gap in the constitution, he noted that the PPP has worked to address this issue and has made efforts to build consensus on the amendments. The constitutional court will ensure equal representation of all provinces and will handle matters related to constitutional issues.
