Islamabad: The revised text of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, embedding sweeping judicial reforms, faces a crucial Senate vote today, just a day after securing National Assembly approval amid fierce opposition uproar. A Senate session has been convened at Parliament House, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar slated to table the bill, sources told Aaj News. An afternoon federal cabinet huddle will greenlight ancillary law tweaks to align with the changes.
Government maneuvers ensure smooth passage: PTI dissidents Saifullah Abro and JUI-F’s Ahmad Khan remain voting-eligible, their resignations unprocessed and no Article 63 disqualifications filed. Yesterday’s NA triumph—234 votes surpassing the 224 two-thirds threshold—unfolded chaotically, with opposition ripping bill copies, besieging the speaker’s podium, and boycotting. JUI-F opposed, but the coalition’s tally prevailed despite the drama.
At its core, the amendment injects eight clauses, notably revamping Article 6 Clause 2 to bar courts from validating “high treason” acts, incorporating the nascent Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) alongside high and Supreme Courts. It enshrines Chief Justice Yahya Afridi’s tenure uninterrupted, dubbing him CJP until retirement; thereafter, the senior-most judge from Supreme Court or FCC assumes the mantle. Tarar debunked abolition fears: “The CJP office endures; Justice Afridi retains Supreme Judicial Council and Judicial Commission leadership.”