The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill has been introduced in the Senate, proposing extensive reforms through amendments to 48 articles of the Constitution of Pakistan. The move signals one of the most comprehensive overhauls of the country’s constitutional and institutional framework in recent years.
Under the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, significant changes have been outlined in Article 243, suggesting the dissolution of the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and the creation of a new position titled Chief of Defence Forces. The amendment also proposes to retain the rank of Field Marshal for life, a move being viewed as a structural modernization of Pakistan’s defence hierarchy.
In a major step toward judicial reform, the bill recommends that the power to transfer judges be delegated to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. Both the chief justices of the high courts involved in the transfer—from and to—will participate in the decision-making process. The retirement age for judges of the proposed constitutional court has been set at 68 years.
The draft also includes political and administrative reforms. It proposes an increase in the number of seats in the Balochistan Provincial Assembly, along with the expansion of the provincial cabinet and the inclusion of more advisers. Another proposal seeks to conduct elections for the entire Senate simultaneously, aiming to streamline the legislative process.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a virtual meeting of the federal cabinet from Baku, where the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was approved. However, the agenda did not include any changes to the provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. According to official sources, the bill will now be presented for approval in the Senate following the cabinet’s endorsement.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while addressing the media, stated that the amendment aligns with the “Charter of Democracy” and includes the establishment of a constitutional court under Article 243. He emphasized that Parliament would have the final authority to approve the proposed amendment after due debate and discussion.
Tarar also noted that recent global military developments and lessons from the Pakistan-India conflict highlighted the need to redefine senior defence roles. He confirmed that the proposed changes, including the Field Marshal’s tenure and the command structure of the armed forces, would be debated in Parliament before final inclusion.
The law minister concluded that the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill will only become law once it secures a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The bill’s introduction marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s constitutional evolution, shaping the future balance of power across defence, judiciary, and political institutions.
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