The Senate session on the 27th Constitutional Amendment is scheduled for 3 pm today. To pass the amendment, two-thirds of the parliament’s support is required. The government has already secured 64 votes in the Senate, enough for approval even without the backing of JUI. It also holds a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in the Senate on Saturday and referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice after the federal cabinet approved the draft. The Senate session, which began at 1:15 pm—over an hour behind schedule—saw Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar immediately request the suspension of question-hour and other routine business to brief lawmakers on the bill. The minister formally presented the bill to the upper house, after which Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani referred it to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for review. He directed that the committee invite members of the National Assembly’s corresponding committee to participate and provide input. Gilani added that joint meetings could be held for a detailed examination, with the committee’s report later presented to the House. PTI’s Ali Zafar criticized the process, saying it was inappropriate to debate the amendment while the opposition leader’s seat remains vacant. He accused the government and its allies of rushing the bill’s passage and suggested that the Senate itself act as a committee to review it. “The opposition received the draft today and has not had a chance to read it. We cannot debate something unread,” he remarked. The law minister clarified that the bill contains 49 clauses, covering three main areas and two ancillary subjects, addressing a total of five key issues. He highlighted that one of the things agreed in the Charter of Democracy signed in 2006 was the formation of a federal constitutional court which would have superior court judges from all provinces and hear constitutional matters while regular courts would continue to hear all other matters. “During consultations on the 26th Constitutional Amendment, some of our friends suggested to refrain from making such a huge change and to experiment by making constitutional benches,” he said. The minister said constitutional benches had been made but judges spent most of their time listening to such matters and other cases during the rest of the time. “The fact of the matter is that five to six percent of cases take 40pc of the court’s time and the rest of the cases remain as is,” he said. He further stated that some argued that constitutional benches were a “court within a court” and also raised other objections. Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar maintained that the bill has been referred to the committee where all members debate it.
27th Amendment: Senate Session Scheduled Today at 3 PM
