27th Constitutional Amendment: PILDAT raises concerns over its passage by Senate in haste

ISLAMABAD: The passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment by the Senate “through an accelerated process within 24 hours” in November last year raised concerns regarding parliamentary scrutiny and deliberative depth, and alters key pillars of the system of checks and balances.

This has been noted by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT) in its latest report on the performance of the Senate in the last parliamentary year 2025-26 – from 11 March 2025 to 12 March 2026.

The 32-page report notes that a defining feature of the year was the passage of the 27th Amendment, which introduced major changes in judicial structure, and military command arrangements.

The document further states that the amendment was passed through an accelerated process within 24 hours, raising concerns regarding parliamentary scrutiny and deliberative depth.

“The Senate played a central role in the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, one of the most consequential and contested developments of the year, introducing major changes to judicial structure, military command arrangements, and accountability frameworks. The speed of its passage raised concerns regarding the depth of parliamentary scrutiny as it was passed in one sitting,” reads the 32-page document.

“More broadly, the passage of the 27th Amendment has significant implications for Pakistan’s institutional architecture. By restructuring the judiciary, consolidating military command within a constitutional framework, and expanding executive linked immunities, the amendment alters key pillars of the system of checks and balances,” the report reads.

“These developments intensify long-standing debates about the nature of governance in Pakistan, particularly within the context of hybrid political arrangements characterised by overlapping civilian and military influence. Analysts have argued that the cumulative effect of these changes may tilt the balance of power further towards a centralised executive–military nexus, potentially constraining institutional autonomy and democratic accountability in the long term,” the document notes.

The report also highlights what it describes as a major institutional gap stemming from the fact that 11 Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained vacant for approximately 23 months (February 2024 to January 2026) due to electoral delays and legal disputes, affecting federal representation and Senate composition.

It says that further institutional strain was caused by the resignation of opposition members from Senate Standing Committees in September 2025, weakening parliamentary oversight and reducing bipartisan engagement.

A defining institutional development in the Senate was the disruption and prolonged vacancy in the office of the leader of the opposition, according to the report.

Overall, the Senate passed a total of 97 bills, including 47 government bills and 50 private members’ bills in the last parliamentary year, the report mentions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026