Joint Parliamentary Committees reconvene on 27th constitutional amendment

ISLAMABAD: The Joint Parliamentary Committees on Law and Justice resumed discussions today on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025. The amendment is a key piece of legislation that is expected to introduce major reforms in Pakistan’s judicial structure, parliamentary powers, and federal–provincial relations.

The in-camera meeting, chaired by Senate Standing Committee Chairman Farooq H Naik, will also be attended by National Assembly Standing Committee Chairman Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk. According to parliamentary sources, members have been instructed to conduct a clause-by-clause review of the bill, assessing the constitutional, legal, and administrative implications of each provision.

The session follows a disrupted start to the review process yesterday, when members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) boycotted the meeting over objections to certain clauses, including those related to Article 243 and the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court.

JUI-F MNA Aliya Kamran had voiced her party’s reservations, arguing that portions removed from the 26th Amendment had been reinstated in the new draft. She also questioned whether judges of the proposed Constitutional Court would hold authority above the Supreme Court, and criticised the increase in the number of government advisers, saying it would not serve public interests.

Following the walkout, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar reaffirmed that the boycott was JUI-F’s democratic right but urged all parties to submit constructive feedback. “We have shared the draft of the 27th Amendment with all parties and asked the opposition to submit their suggestions on the floor of the House. To say ‘I won’t accept it’ would be inappropriate,” he stated.

Tarar further explained that the creation of a federal constitutional court has been under discussion for nearly two decades, with previous attempts during the 18th and 26th Amendments falling through amid political disagreements.

Today’s reconvened meeting is expected to continue deliberations from where they left off, with government and opposition representatives presenting their recommendations on the remaining clauses. Once finalised, the committee’s report will be submitted to a joint session of Parliament for debate and possible adoption.

Sources indicate that the new draft of the 27th Amendment also includes a controversial provision granting the President lifelong immunity from legal proceedings, a clause likely to face intense scrutiny in the coming discussions.