ISLAMABAD – The joint law and justice committees of Parliament presented the report on the 27th Constitutional Amendment in the Senate on Monday. Senator Farooq H. Naek submitted the report after the afternoon session resumed. The report includes several major proposals and marks a key step toward a possible vote. However, opposition members boycotted the session, accusing the government of bypassing parliamentary consultation.
Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani said the issue was national, not personal, and questioned PTI’s failure to hold intra-party elections. He criticised the party for impatience and reminded the Senate of past controversial actions. Senator Fauzia Arshad added that the opposition leader’s absence reflected the seriousness of the situation. She said the amendment was personal in nature and weakened institutions. PPP Senator Punjomal Bhil defended his party’s legacy, praised Bilawal Bhutto’s leadership, and criticised PTI’s founder for past agreements with the Taliban.
Read more: Parliament clears most clauses of 27th amendment
Before the session, senators attended a breakfast hosted by Senator Dinesh Kumar, who humorously listed menu items such as eggs, parathas, halwa, and croissants. He remarked that loyalty must be shown to those who support them. During the debate, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government faced no deadlock. He claimed the coalition had enough votes to pass the amendment once all members were present in the chamber.
However, JUI announced it would not back the 27th Amendment. Senator Kamran Murtaza argued that the government denied them a fair review process and vowed to oppose the bill. He warned that ignoring proper consultation could harm Pakistan’s democracy. Senator Ali Zafar supported this view, saying the rushed approach undermined transparency. Both urged the government to reconsider before proceeding with the vote.
Read more: PML-N, PPP reach consensus on 27th amendment draft
Government allies supported the bill, calling it a step toward stronger institutions. Senator Faisal Vawda praised the Prime Minister for promoting democracy and national defense. ANP’s Emil Wali Khan expressed trust in the Prime Minister’s accountability efforts. Federal Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the drafting process was complete and hoped for Senate approval soon. The amendment includes 49 changes, including revisions to Article 243, creation of constitutional courts, and an extended case review period from six months to one year. Some allied proposals, such as renaming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adding seats in Balochistan, remain under discussion.