Pakistan’s National Assembly on Wednesday passed the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority during a ruckus-marred session, aiming to create a new position of the Chief of Defence Forces and set up a constitutional court. The bill, which had stirred controversy for weeks, was presented in the National Assembly by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday, a day after the Senate approved the key legislation.
The National Assembly on Wednesday approved all 59 clauses of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill amid opposition’s boycott, completing the clause-by-clause voting process. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party members tore up copies of the bill and threw them towards the PM’s chair. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said the bill received 234 votes in favour and four against.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended the lower house session.The amendment was passed following a two-day-long debate. However, opposition led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf boycotted the proceedings. Law Minister Tarar described constitutional reform as an “evolutionary process” undertaken with careful deliberation.
He said the draft had been thoroughly reviewed and discussed with bar councils and bar associations across the country. The bill now needs the assent of President Asif Ali Zardari to become effective, which is expected to be granted later tonight. Under the amendment bill, the President will appoint the Army Chief and the Chief of Defence Force on the advice of the Prime Minister. It also proposes that the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will expire on November 27, 2025.
