27th Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in Senate

The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in the Senate on Saturday and was referred to the standing committee on law and justice, following the federal cabinet green-signalled the draft, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Senate session started at 1:15 pm over one hour behind its scheduled time and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar wasted no time and stood from his seat, requesting the suspension of the question-hour and other house business so he could brief lawmakers on the 27th Amendment Bill.

The minister then introduced the bill before the upper house, with Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani referring it to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for review and consideration. “The Standing Committee on Law and Justice is directed to invite the chairman and members of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice of the National Assembly to participate in its proceedings and share input on the bill,” he said.

Gilani said that both committees may hold joint meetings for a detailed review and consideration and the report would be presented before the House.

PTI’s Ali Zafar said debating the constitutional amendment was not appropriate when the leader of the opposition’s seat remained vacant. He said the government and its allied parties appeared to be in a hurry to pass the bill. “I would suggest that instead of sending it to the committee, let this Senate be treated as a committee as a whole,” he said, suggesting the bill be debated by all individuals. He further said that the opposition had received the draft today and had also not yet read a word of it. “We cannot debate something we have not read,” he said.

The law minister said the bill had 49 clauses. “Let me clarify that there are three main areas and two ancilliary. It will address five subject areas,” he said.

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.

Sherry Rehman says 18th Amendment not being rolled back

PPP leader Sherry Rehman, addressing the Senate session, said that there was no lengthy consultation on 27th Constitutional Amendment. She said 18th Amendment was discussed for a year before approval. Sherry Rehman told the opposition to study the bill and assure it that 18th Amendment was not being rolled back. 

Sherry Rehman said NFC was brought by the PPP, which gave rights to the provinces. She urged the Opposition to play its role in the debate on constitutional amendments. Sherry said the real issue is Pakistan's resources and their equal distribution. 

The draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, approved earlier by the federal cabinet, was presented to the Senate on Saturday and referred to a joint parliamentary committee for review.

Senate session, chaired by Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, focused on the bill. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the 27th Amendment Bill in the upper house, requesting suspension of the question hour. The motion, moved by the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, was approved by the Senate.

Law Minister Tarar says all political parties would be invited to participate in committee’s discussions

During the session, Law Minister Tarar informed the house that all political parties would be invited to participate in the committee’s discussions. He emphasised that the bill would be thoroughly debated before moving forward.

Ali Zafar and Raja Nasir Abbas voice concerns

Opposition senators, including Senator Ali Zafar and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, voiced concerns that the amendment had been introduced without broad consensus. They argued that the opposition had not been given sufficient time to review the draft.

Allama Raja Nasir Abbas criticised the process, saying lawmakers were given only two days to review the changes. He expressed concern over the concentration of power in the hands of the Army Chief, warning that the rushed legislation could make the Constitution controversial.

He urged consensus-building before introducing amendments and stressed that strict laws should exist to prevent powerful individuals from being unchecked.

Joint in-camera meeting of NA/Senate Standing Committees starts

A joint session of both the NA and Senate standing committees on law and justice has been summoned to discuss the amendment. 

In-camera meeting of the joint committee is being co-chaired by the chairpersons of both committees, Senator Farooq H. Naek and MNA Mahmood Bashir Virk to review the proposed legislation in detail. 

Ahead of standing committees session, Farooq H Naeik told media that all committee members will give their opinion and suggestions on the proposed legislation. He said all proposals of the members will be reviewed. 

Naek urged PTI and other opposition members to attend the standing committees meeting and give their opinion for the national interest. 

He said all points of the government and opposition members should come on the record. 

He urged the opposition to give their opinion so that public should know what is their position on the proposed legislation.

 
Reporter Usman Khan