- Insist bill’s draft had undergone ‘extensive scrutiny’ before being tabled in Senate
- Minister of State for Law and Justice emphasized there was ‘no urgency’ in convening cabinet meeting
- PPP’s Chan reiterates his party held hours-long sessions during a two-day CEC meeting to discuss issues ranging from Article 243 to dual nationality
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday defended the government’s handling of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, rejecting claims that the process was being rushed through without adequate debate, insisting the draft had undergone “extensive scrutiny” before being tabled in the Senate, following approval from the federal cabinet.
Earlier in the day, the bill for the 27th Constitutional Amendment was formally presented in the Senate and referred to the standing committees on law and justice for detailed review. The committees are expected to hold joint sessions to deliberate on the proposed changes, including the formation of a Federal Constitutional Court, revisions to the appointment process of high court judges, adjustments to the provincial cabinet threshold, and modifications to the military leadership structure.
“No Rush,” Says State Minister
Speaking on a TV channel, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik emphasized that there was “no urgency” in convening the cabinet meeting, despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attending the session virtually from Baku, Azerbaijan. Malik highlighted that extensive discussions were ongoing within party committees and underlined that it was the prerogative of parliamentarians to propose amendments to the draft.
He also stressed that the perception of haste was a “wrong impression,” noting that some changes could still be made as the draft was under debate in parliamentary committees. While acknowledging the unusually rapid pace of the process compared to previous constitutional amendments—the 18th Amendment was passed after over a year of consultations and the 26th Amendment debated for more than a month—Malik maintained that adequate scrutiny was being carried out.
PPP Emphasizes Thorough Internal Debate
PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan reiterated that his party had held hours-long sessions during a two-day Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, where every member participated in detailed discussions on issues ranging from Article 243 to dual nationality. Chan assured that the proposed changes had undergone adequate internal debate.
“If law-making is done in a hurry, the public becomes suspicious for no reason,” he said, while defending the party’s role in thoroughly reviewing the amendment. On questions regarding revision in the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula, Chan highlighted that the federal government grants tax exemptions worth Rs300 billion and oversees around 25 departments that do not conduct audits, arguing that provinces cannot be expected to cover gaps in federal revenue collection.
Bill Details and Legislative Process
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who briefed media after the cabinet meeting, requested the suspension of the question hour and other parliamentary business so he could present the features of the proposed amendment. He then tabled the bill in the Senate, with Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani referring it to the standing committees on law and justice for review and consideration. Both committees may hold joint sessions to ensure detailed scrutiny before presenting a report to the House.
During the Senate session, PTI Senator Ali Zafar criticized the debate, saying it was inappropriate to proceed while the leader of the opposition’s seat remained vacant. He also alleged that the government and its allies appeared to be rushing the bill through Parliament.
The PTI did not participate in the subsequent session of the parliamentary committees, calling the amendment a “conspiracy against the Constitution.”
Scope of Proposed Amendments
The proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment includes key changes across multiple domains:
Judiciary: Establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court to handle constitutional matters while routine cases remain in regular courts. Changes in the process for appointing and transferring high court judges are also proposed.
Provincial Cabinets & Local Governments: Increase in provincial cabinet threshold from 11% to 13%, with provisions for provincial advisers.
Military Leadership: Clarifications regarding the appointment and tenure of the Chief of Army Staff and the conferment of honorary titles such as field marshal, marshal of the air force, and admiral of the fleet.
Article 243 Revisions: Proposed changes to define the powers and responsibilities of the armed forces and federal government more clearly.
Other Provisions: Creation of executive magistrates, return of certain subjects such as education and population planning to the federation, and measures to resolve the deadlock on the appointment of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Political Context
On November 3, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had revealed the broad scope of the government’s proposed amendments, including setting up constitutional courts, modifying the NFC formula, transferring judges, and revising Article 243. The amendment has already sparked debate among political parties and legal circles, with some criticizing it as an attempt to roll back provincial rights granted under the 18th Amendment.
Meanwhile, the federal cabinet had actively coordinated with allied parties, including the PML-N, PPP, ANP, PML-Zia, PML-Q, IPP, MQM-P, and BAP, before presenting the draft. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also consulted senior party leaders, including Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, to ensure broad support.
Both NA and Senate standing committees are expected to continue deliberations in the coming days. The government aims to address concerns raised by opposition parties and build a consensus before the bill is formally debated and voted on in Parliament.
The proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, with its far-reaching implications for the judiciary, provincial governance, and military leadership, remains at the center of Pakistan’s political and legal discourse. Its passage is expected to shape governance, federal-provincial relations, and institutional structures for years to come.
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