By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarrar presented the draft of the 27th constitutional amendment in the National Assembly on Tuesday, highlighting its approval by the Senate with a two‑thirds majority.
Speaking during the session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Tarrar said the amendment seeks to establish a constitutional court, a key point of the National Democratic Charter, and stressed that constitutional changes should ideally be made by consensus. “The opposition should have been part of the joint committee,” he added.
Tarrar explained that globally, constitutional matters are heard by specialised benches, and judicial appointments in many countries are made through judicial commissions. He also appealed to opposition members to engage constructively in debate, noting that provisions granting immunity to the president will lapse if a sitting president seeks another public office.
The minister said 47 out of 59 proposed amendments were necessary due to the establishment of the constitutional court. He emphasised that the appointments of army chiefs follow the Army Act, with the rank of Field Marshal being honorary for life, and cited past experiences to illustrate the impact of high‑level appointments on governance and parliamentary supremacy.
Under the proposed amendment, the current Chief Justice would head the constitutional commission and related institutions, with the constitutional court overseeing provincial matters and constitutional cases. The Supreme Court would continue to hear over 62,000 civil cases alongside its constitutional jurisdiction. The law minister further noted that the amendment removes the government’s previous use of suo motu powers over economic, administrative, and judicial matters, introducing a clear procedure for addressing such issues.
