Joint Parliamentary Committee Approves Draft Of 27th Constitutional Amendment

ISLAMABAD: The joint parliamentary committee comprising members of the Senate and National Assembly’s standing committees on law and justice has approved the complete draft of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, sources confirmed to main media on Sunday.

The session, co-chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naek and MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, began earlier in the day. However, opposition parties — including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and Majlis-e-Wahdatul-Muslimeen (MWM) — boycotted the meeting, as their members failed to attend.

In a major development, the committee granted clause-by-clause approval to 49 proposed amendments. The draft, already cleared by the federal cabinet, will be presented in Parliament tomorrow (Monday), according to sources.

Coalition parties’ suggestions will be reconsidered in a follow-up meeting scheduled for Monday. Meanwhile, the Awami National Party (ANP) raised objections to the proposed amendment and skipped the prime minister’s dinner in protest.

Focus on Article 243 and Key Reforms

The joint committee earlier gave approval to changes in Article 243 of the Constitution — which assigns the President of Pakistan the supreme command of the armed forces, while maintaining federal government control — marking a key step in advancing the amendment package.

The 27th Amendment Bill, which proposes major changes to both the judicial system and military command structure, was tabled in the Senate a day earlier.

Sources said the committees have completed deliberations on most clauses, including Article 243, following extensive review. The government has sought additional time to examine proposals regarding renaming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and increasing assembly seats in Balochistan.

“These matters will undergo further consideration, with final decisions expected tomorrow,” sources added.

PML-N Withdraws PM Immunity Proposal

In a key move, the PML-N withdrew its earlier proposal seeking criminal immunity for the prime minister. According to sources, Senator Anusha Rahman formally withdrew the amendment following instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

PPP’s Farooq Naek welcomed the decision, calling it “a positive step.” The committee’s final report is expected to be presented in the Senate on Monday, where the 27th Constitutional Amendment could be put to vote.

Committee members expressed regret over the opposition’s absence, terming it “deeply unfortunate,” and urged all parties to participate in the democratic process. Members reaffirmed their resolve to complete the amendment “with sincerity,” saying it is crucial for the strengthening of democracy in the country.

Three Additional Amendments Submitted

Sources revealed that coalition parties also submitted three new amendments during the joint session. The ANP, Balochistan National Party (BNP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) presented their own proposals.

The committee approved a clause for the establishment of constitutional courts, while extending the timeframe for deciding pending cases from six months to one year. It was further approved that unpursued cases for one year will be considered disposed of.

The ANP proposed renaming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as “Pakhtunkhwa”, arguing that “Khyber” refers to a district and that no other province is named after a district. Meanwhile, MQM-P’s proposal regarding enhanced funding powers for local government representatives was accepted, while talks on increasing Balochistan Assembly seats are ongoing.

‘Majority Opinion Will Prevail,’ Says Naek

Speaking to reporters before the session, Senator Farooq H. Naek said all clauses would be discussed and expressed hope that the amendment would be finalised by the evening.

“Every party has the right to express its opinion, and the committee will take all suggestions — including those from PML-N and MQM-P — into account,” Naek said, adding that “decisions will be made according to the majority opinion.”

Salient Features of the 27th Constitutional Amendment

Creation of a new position: Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), effective November 27, 2025
Chief of Army Staff to assume the role of Chief of Defence Forces
Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, and Admiral of Fleet titles to remain for life
The Prime Minister to appoint the Commander of National Strategic Command on the recommendation of the CDF
Establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court with equal provincial representation
President and Prime Minister to play key roles in judicial appointments
Parliament to determine the number of judges in the Constitutional Court
Supreme Court powers to be reduced, with some authority shifted to the new court
Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court to serve a three-year term
Lifetime immunity for the President from criminal proceedings