Pakistan’s National Assembly approved on Wednesday the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a far-reaching set of reforms reshaping the country’s judicial and defense structures, amid loud protests from the opposition.
The legislation was passed with the required two-thirds majority after being approved by the Senate earlier this week. Opposition lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the vote and tore up copies of the bill in protest.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the constitutional and legal changes had been thoroughly reviewed and discussed with the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council.
Tarar said the amendment addressed ambiguity surrounding the position of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, confirming that the current chief justice would continue in office.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar further told the house that under the new constitutional rule, the title of Chief Justice of Pakistan would go to whichever chief—of the Supreme Court or the newly formed Federal Constitutional Court—has greater seniority and experience. By this rule, Justice Yahya Afridi would serve as the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
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He also noted that Article 6 of the Constitution, defining high treason, had been revised to include the Federal Constitutional Court, officially recognizing the new judicial body.
PM hails passage of Amendment
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated lawmakers on the passage of the bill, calling it a historic step for democracy and national unity. Speaking in the National Assembly, he thanked all parties for demonstrating consensus and said the establishment of constitutional courts fulfills a 19-year-long promise.
Sharif emphasized that the Chief Justice will continue to lead the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, the Supreme Judicial Council, and the Law and Justice Commission, and that the government will continue to seek guidance from the judiciary to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. He also reiterated his commitment to empowering both the federation and the provinces while opposing measures that could weaken national unity.
Addressing national security, Sharif praised Pakistan’s security forces for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and said he would consult political parties, including the PPP, on matters related to the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to build consensus.
Bilawal stresses consensus and security unity
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned recent terrorist attacks and urged political unity against rising militancy. Turning to the constitutional reforms, he said the 27th Amendment fulfills the “unfulfilled promises of the Charter of Democracy,” signed in 2006 by his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif.
Bilawal highlighted that the amendment gives constitutional protection to the military rank of field marshal, introduces reforms in defense institutions, and that his party supported the government to complete the “unfinished mission” of the Charter of Democracy.
During the parliamentary debate, PPP lawmaker Nafisa Shah acknowledged that some clauses were controversial and required discussion but rejected any notion of a boycott. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq called for calm and urged the opposition and government to resume dialogue.
PTI representatives, however, reiterated their concerns, with Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan highlighting the need for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister to meet Imran Khan in prison. Law Minister Tarar countered that opposition lawmakers had been invited to join the joint parliamentary committee reviewing the amendment, noting that the reforms align Pakistan with other democracies that maintain separate constitutional courts.
The 59-clause amendment, passed by the Senate earlier with 64 votes in favor and none against, marks Pakistan’s latest major constitutional revision since the 18th Amendment of 2010, significantly altering the judicial and defense framework and reinforcing the country’s federal governance structure.
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