Islamabad: The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Senate, was formally introduced in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday.
Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill in the lower house of Parliament, proposing significant reforms to Pakistan’s judicial system. The introduction of the bill was met with strong protests and disruptions from the opposition benches.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the law minister stated that the bill had already been approved by the Senate with a two-thirds majority and emphasized that it was a crucial step towards strengthening the country’s constitutional and judicial framework.
He explained that the proposed amendment includes provisions to abolish the suo motu powers of the judiciary and establish a clear procedure for the transfer of judges.
The law minister called the bill a step toward ensuring stability within Pakistan’s judicial and constitutional systems.
He pointed out that in many democratic countries, constitutional matters are handled by specialized constitutional courts, and judges are appointed through judicial commissions.
Referring to the Charter of Democracy, the minister highlighted that reinforcing the constitutional order has long been a shared goal among political parties, and this amendment is in line with that vision.
The law minister argued that the frequent use of suo motu powers in the past had negatively impacted state affairs, and the proposed amendment would introduce a transparent process to prevent unnecessary judicial interference.
Another key aspect of the bill addresses judicial transfers. Under the current Article 200, the President has the authority to transfer High Court judges. However, under the new proposal, this power would be transferred to the Judicial Commission, which would make such decisions independently. Any judge who refuses a transfer would be considered retired.
One of the major provisions in the bill also calls for the establishment of a Constitutional Court to exclusively handle constitutional cases. Tarar explained that this reform would help reduce the burden on the Supreme Court, which is currently handling over 62,000 civil cases.
The law minister also touched on appointments to senior military positions, emphasizing that these appointments should remain within constitutional limits. He added that the rank of Field Marshal, which is considered an honorary title worldwide, should also be defined within the constitutional framework.
The government has expressed its support for the amendment, calling it a step toward judicial clarity and accountability.
However, opposition parties have strongly opposed the bill, arguing that the government introduced it without adequate consultation and debate, raising concerns over the transparency of the process.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which has already been passed by the Senate with a two-thirds majority, will now be deliberated upon in the National Assembly.
