Senate passes 27th Constitutional Amendment bill amid opposition walkout
The Senate on Monday passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill after 64 lawmakers voted in its favour. The bill was approved by the upper house which aims to overhaul the military and judicial structures, amid the opposition’s protest, who tore the document’s copies.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the 59-clause Bill, which secured the required two-thirds majority with 64 votes in the 96-member House. The Bill will now move to the National Assembly for approval. No votes were cast against it, as the opposition chose to boycott the session.
Apart from the treasury members, the Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Saifullah Abro and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Ahmed Khan were among the senators who voted in favour of the amendment. Interestingly, Abro did not partake in the protest as well.
Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, presiding over the session, read the amended clauses one by one for voting, while opposition members protested the controversial bill and staged a walkout. Meanwhile, Humayun Mohmand and a few PTI senators remained in the chamber, continuing to chant slogans against the government and its coalition partners.
Earlier, the joint standing committees on law and justice of the Senate and National Assembly presented the report on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment in the Senate. Senator Farooq H. Naek submitted the report after the afternoon session resumed.
Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani said the issue was not personal but national, questioning why PTI had not conducted intra-party elections. He criticised the party for lacking patience and referenced past actions, including the release of 4,000 terrorists from prisons and previous political decisions by PTI’s founder.
Senator Fauzia Arshad stated the opposition leader was absent from the Senate, highlighting that the 27th Amendment undermines institutions and is personal in nature.
PPP Senator Punjomal Bhil emphasized the sacrifices made by his party for the country and constitution, criticized PTI’s founder for agreements with the Taliban, and praised Bilawal Bhutto’s leadership to solve national issues.
Before the Senate session, members were invited for breakfast, with Senator Dinesh Kumar listing the menu items including eggs, parathas, halwa, and croissants. He added that loyalty is shown to those who have supported them.
Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar will table the 27th constitutional amendment bill on Monday in the Senate as the upper house session will begin at 11:00am in the Parliament House here.
Earlier, Senator Farooq H. Naik would present the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for Law and Justice in the Senate on the constitutional bill.
Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will table the 27th constitutional amendment bill in the session.
After approval from the Senate the 27th constitutional amendment bill will be tabled in the National Assembly as the NA session has been summoned at 4:00 PM today.
The joint parliamentary committee on Sunday approved the Federal Constitutional Court clause in its meeting at the Parliament House while reviewing the proposed legislation clause-wise.
The parliament committee also approved the clause pertaining to transfer of judges. “The judge that will not be agreed to transfer will be deemed retired. The retired judge will be entitled of pension and other previliges.”
“Three more amendments were also presented to the parliamentary committee from the government’s allied parties the ANP, BAP and MQM”, sources said.
The ANP in its amendment proposed removal of the world ‘Khyber’ from ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ to name the province as “Pakhtunkhwa”.
The MQM presented its amendment with regard to local councils’ funds, while the BAP submitted amendment about increasing the number of seats of the Balochistan Assembly.
The committee could not decide over the government allied parties constitutional proposals.
Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar talking to newsmen has said that a breakthrough over the MQM proposal is likely today, while consultations have been underway over the change of the name of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and increased seats in Balochistan Assembly.