Joint parliamentary committee ‘approves’ amendments to Article 243

The joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and National Assembly on Law and Justice has approved amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution after extensive deliberations, paving the way for the establishment of constitutional courts and other key reforms, Aaj News reported citing sources.

According to the sources, the decision followed detailed consultations on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment draft, which has now been finalised. A final decision on additional amendments is expected by Monday (tomorrow).

During the joint session, government coalition partners presented three new amendments, while the Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also submitted their own proposals.

The sources said the government sought more time to review ANP’s proposal to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the amendment seeking an increase in provincial assembly seats for Balochistan. Both proposals will be reconsidered before a final decision tomorrow.

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The committee also endorsed the clause granting lifelong immunity to the president and approved provisions related to the formation of constitutional courts.

Additionally, an amendment extending the timeframe for deciding pending cases from six months to one year was approved. Cases with no progress for a year will be deemed disposed of, sources added.

Committee ‘approves’ constitutional amendment draft

Meanwhile, the joint parliamentary committee has approved the basic draft of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The committee, chaired by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, reached a consensus on the core draft during its meeting.

The meeting was adjourned for the Maghrib prayer, after which a final decision will be taken on the clause concerning presidential immunity and the proposals submitted by coalition partners, Aaj News reported.

Speaking to reporters, Tarar said that work on the provisions included in the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill is nearly complete, while discussions continue on some of the proposals that were submitted later.

He added that the issue of renaming the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also discussed, and that the proposals of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) are currently under review. He said the suggestions from the ANP and BAP will be discussed with their respective leaderships, and that the break was called to allow political parties to consult their leaders.

It is worth noting that any constitutional amendment requires separate two-thirds majority approval in both houses of Parliament. At present, 64 votes are needed in the Senate and 224 votes in the National Assembly for the amendment to pass. The opposition benches in the Senate currently hold 30 members, who are likely to oppose the amendment.