Bilawal reaches National Assembly after meeting with Zardari
Photo: REUTERS
The 27th Constitutional Amendment is to be voted on today in the National Assembly. Federal Law Minister Azam Tarar has confirmed that additional amendments will be brought to the 27th Constitutional Amendment. These supplementary changes will be presented in the National Assembly, with separate lists prepared for government and opposition proposals. Eleven opposition amendments have also been included on the agenda, government sources have said.
Sources within the judiciary told The Express Tribune the Supreme Court and the chief justice's titles to include Pakistan again. Government is reportedly conceding to public backlash.
Initial reports suggest changes to Article 6 clause 2A, which pertains to treason. Sources within the PPP told The Express Tribune that the name of the Federal Constitutional Court will also be included alongside the Supreme Court.
According to the proposed amendment, any act of treason mentioned in sub-clause one or two shall not be validated by any court, including the Federal Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, or the High Courts.
Once approved by the National Assembly, the bill incorporating the additional amendments will be sent back to the Senate. A Senate session, rescheduled at short notice, has now been convened for 5.00pm today.
Debate resumes
Today's National Assembly sessions commenced under the chairperson, Ayaz Sadiq. Fateha prayers were recited for the victims of the suicide attack at the Islamabad Judicial Complex. “The Judicial Complex condemns the suicide bombing,” said the Speaker of the National Assembly.
During the session, Speaker Sadiq addressed Chairperson of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Achakzai, stating, “Prime Minister and the government have invited you for negotiations several times.”
Speaker Sadiq once again offered to facilitate talks.
Responding, Achakzai said, “You are not the elected representatives of the people.”
Speaker Sadiq replied, “Achakzai Sahib, I have defeated your leader twice. There is no election petition against me. You are only looking for excuses not to negotiate.”
Achakzai claimed that efforts were being made to block the path of public rule in Pakistan and expressed concern over what he described as an undemocratic change to the country’s constitution. “This amendment includes leaders who have made significant sacrifices,” he said, adding that the struggle between democratic and non-democratic forces in Pakistan has continued since the country’s inception.
He called for regional dialogue between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and India, emphasising that war is a skill, not a game. “We do not accept the 27th Constitutional Amendment and will oppose it fully,” he said.
Achakzai urged the formation of a national government for six months to allow elections, stating, “Elections should take place and the winner should form the government. Soldiers are trained only to fight, not in democratic governance.”
Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar addressed the Assembly and blasted the opposition, "Today, when this Parliament, a supreme institution, is about to amend Pakistan’s Constitution, it seems to bother certain people. Besides double standards, they have their politics."
Read more: Government presents 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill amid protests, voting today
PPP, govt meet
Azam Tarar met with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The meeting was attended by Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, and Murtaza Wahab. Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Awan also present. Members of the PPP convened a parliamentary party meeting in the Parliament House today.
Tarar told the media, “We are discussing two or three constructive suggestions regarding the 27th Amendment. Voting on the 27th Amendment will take place today.
"If any changes have been made to the amendment approved by the Senate, it will be sent back for Senate approval to the extent of those changes."
After the meeting with the government, Bilawal Bhutto consulted with his legal team. The consultative session took place in Bilawal's chamber, with Sherry Rehman and Farooq H.Naik present.
After the meeting concluded, Bilawal left for Aiwan-e-Sadr and will consult President Asif Ali Zardari on the newly proposed amendments.
National Assembly seats
The NA comprises of 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members stands at 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden figure” of 224 votes.
Hover over the graphic below to view the breakdown of seats in the National Assembly.
MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal said that his party's suggestions regarding local governments were not included in the 27th Amendment but would be part of the upcoming 28th Amendment Bill.
Currently, the ruling alliance holds the support of 237 members in the NA. The PML-N is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement with 22, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid with 5, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party with 4, and one member each from the Pakistan Muslim League-Zia and the Balochistan Awami Party. The government also enjoys the backing of four independent members.
However, the National Party, part of the ruling coalition, has decided not to vote in favour of the constitutional amendment.
PPP, with 74 members, is the second-largest party within the coalition. Its support has been crucial in helping the federal government secure not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when required.
On the other hand, the opposition benches comprise a total of 89 members. These include 75 independents, 10 members from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Pakistan), and one member each from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
With the government coalition having enough numbers, the amendments' passage is soon set to become a reality. The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill comprises 59 clauses and around 47–48 consequential amendments, with a vote to follow after debate.
Voices of protest
Judicial and political circles have begun protesting against the proposed 27th Amendment, with demonstrations spreading across the country.
Supreme Court judge Athar Minallah has called on Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to convene a judicial conference to have an open dialogue on threats to the independence of the judiciary. In the 7-page letter titled "Moment of Reckoning," Judge Minallah presents an overview of the chequered history of the top court, which he said has too often bowed before might and power instead of standing on the side of the people.
As the voices of protest reached Sindh, the Sindh government imposed Section 144 in the province. The Sindh Action Committee took to the streets in all districts of Sindh, joined by the legal fraternity, and blasted the 27th Amendment.
The Sindh United Party's Roshan Ali Burio addressed the demonstration at Hyderabad Press Club, stating that the legislation will "clip the wings of the judiciary by not allowing the bench to function independently".
"The freedom of expression and independence of the judiciary were snatched through the 26th amendment, and now the rulers want to go a step further," he alleged. The Hyderabad police tried to disperse the protesters and detained over a dozen of them as well, with charges of violating Section 144.
The protest reconvened, this time in the Sindh High Court Bar Association, where they threatened to block the Hyderabad bypass road if the apprehended protestors were not released.
Similar demonstrations took place in all the districts and towns in the province. The protesters converged outside the Larkana press club, chanting slogans against the incumbent government in Islamabad and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for spearheading the amendment.
Also read: Ex-CJP Jawwad S Khawaja challenges 27th Amendment in SC
Protests against the amendment are expected in Islamabad today, outside the courthouses in G11.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has launched a fierce attack on the government's sweeping constitutional reforms, accusing ministers of "distorting" the nation's founding document and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the party's ameer, pledged to continue fighting to restore what he described as the constitution's original integrity after the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed through the Senate on Monday.
Speaking to members of the Lahore Bar Association at Aiwan-e-Adl, Rehman said his party had consistently defended the constitution throughout Pakistan's history, but warned that these changes would give the executive branch decisive control over judicial appointments and the distribution of power.
The Amendment proposes four core changes in the Constitution.
Article 199 & 200
- The President has the power to transfer High Court judges between provinces on Judicial Commission's recommendation
- A judge refusing transfer shall be deemed retired
Article 248
- A new clause grants the President lifetime legal immunity
- If the President is elected back into office, immunity will be waived for the duration of their time in public office
Article 243
- Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to be abolished from November 27, 2025.
- Strategic military authority to be concentrated under the Chief of the Defence Forces.
- Officers granted constitutional protection can only be removed through the Article 47 procedure.
- Presidential immunity under Article 248 extended to these officers.
Federal Constitutional Courts (New Chapter - Part VII)
- FCC to have original jurisdiction in Constitutional disputes between the government and fundamental rights enforcement cases
- Pending petitions or appeals in the Supreme Court or its constitutional benches under this jurisdiction are to be transferred to FCC.
- Abolishes suo motu powers of SC and deletes Articles 184, 186, and 191A.
Additional reporting by Hasnaat Malik