Key details of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment have emerged, highlighting the government’s plan to establish a Constitutional Court dedicated exclusively to handling constitutional matters. Formation of the Constitutional Court According to official sources, the new Constitutional Court will initially consist of seven judges with a retirement age of 68, three years higher than that of current Supreme Court judges. Of these seven judges, five are expected to be selected from the existing Supreme Court bench, while a few High Court judges are also being considered for appointment. Justice Aminuddin Khan Likely to Head the Court Sources suggest that Justice Aminuddin Khan is likely to be appointed as the head of the Constitutional Court. The establishment of the court aims to ensure faster resolution of constitutional disputes and ease the workload of the Supreme Court. Court Location Under Discussion Discussions are ongoing about the location of the new court. Two options are under consideration: Setting it up in the Islamabad High Court building, with the High Court possibly being relocated to its former site in Sector G-9, or Housing it in the Federal Shariat Court building, in which case the Federal Service Tribunal would be shifted to the first floor of that facility. Creation of New Defence Post The 27th Constitutional Amendment also proposes the creation of a new post — Commander of Defence Forces — under an amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution. The position would define the tenure and responsibilities aimed at ensuring greater coordination and unified command among Pakistan’s three armed forces. Background and Ongoing Talks Officials noted that the idea of establishing a Constitutional Court was first agreed upon between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) under the 2006 Charter of Democracy. Talks between the coalition partners over the 27th Constitutional Amendment are still in progress.
27th Constitutional Amendment: Key Government Proposals Unveiled
