Law minister tables 27th Constitutional Amendment bill in National Assembly

Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday tabled ‘The Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Bill, 2025’ in the National Assembly to amend the Constitution of Pakistan.

The historic NA session is being presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

The bill in the National Assembly has been tabled a day after the Senate on Monday passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill with two-thirds majority, as 64 senators voted in its favour during the crucial session, while the opposition staged a walkout.

The bill in the Upper House was also presented by Law Minister Tarar.

The constitutional amendment was passed through clause-by-clause voting, with Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani reading out each amended clause for approval.

All the 59 caluses were approved one-by-one in the House.

During the session, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI)’s Ahmed Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Saifullah Abro also cast their votes

Federating units to get equal representation in constitutional court: Tarar

Sharing main features of the bill before the MNAs, the law minister said the 27th Constitutional Amendment envisaged the establishment of the federal constitutional court. He said the federating units will be given equal representation in the constitutional court as per the spirit of the Charter of Democracy. The Islamabad High Court would also be given representation in the federal constitutional court, he added.

“The federal constitutional court will hear cases relating to constitutional matters and interpretation of the constitution. The permanent seat of the federal constitutional court shall be at Islamabad,” he said.

Law Minister Tarar said the president may transfer a judge of a high court from one high court to another high court on the recommendations of and on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. For this purpose, the chief justices of both high courts shall also be members of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, he maintained.

As per the amendment, the president shall, on advice of the prime minister, appoint the chief of the army staff, concurrently, the chief of the defence forces, he said, adding that the appointment of the chief of air staff and chief of naval staff will be made on the advice of the prime minister.

The office of the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee shall stand abolished with effect from November 27, 2025, he said.

Moreover, he said the prime minister shall, on the recommendation of the chief of the army staff concurrently the chief of the defense forces, appoint the commander of the national strategic command from the members of Pakistan Army and shall also determine his salaries and allowances.

“While when the federal government promotes a member of the armed forces to the rank of field marshal, marshal of the air force or admiral of the fleet, such officer shall retain the rank, privileges and remain in uniform for life. Upon completion of the term of his command, under the law, the federal government shall determine the responsibilities and duties of field marshal, marshal of the air force or admiral of the fleet in the interest of the state,” he said.

According to the constitutional amendment, Tarar said, no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be initiated or continued against the president for his life and for a governor during his term of office in any court.

The law minister said that effort was made to hold detailed discussions on the constitutional amendment. He mentioned the discussions that took place in the relevant standing committees of National Assembly and the Senate. He thanked the coalition partners for their support and guidance on the constitutional amendment.

At the outset, the House offered Fateha for the departed soul of Senator Irfan Siddiqui.

Senators on the treasury benches have supported the constitutional amendment. They emphasised that the establishment of the federal constitutional court will help reduce backlog of cases in the Supreme Court.

They said the constitutional amendment will serve as a milestone for supremacy of the constitution and strengthening of democracy. While, the opposition leaders have vehemently rejected the bill.

The treasury side had last week moved the bill regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment in the Upper House of the Parliament, which grants constitutional protection to the some dignitaries, besides creating a federal constitutional court, allowing the transfer of high court judges, and amending/ substituting other crucial constitutional provisions.

However, the draft constitutional amendment received an outright rejection from the opposition side shortly after being moved in the House.