A joint meeting of the Senate and National Assembly committees on law and justice is underway at Parliament House, Islamabad, to deliberate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill. The session is being held in Committee Room No. 5, chaired by PPP Senator Farooq H. Naik, and attended by key government figures including Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and PPP’s Naveed Qamar.
Other participants include Manzoor Kakar, Hidayatullah, Bashir Ahmed Virk, Ali Haider Gilani, Tahir Khalil Sindhu, Saira Afzal Tarar, and Senator Shahadat Awan. Yesterday, Ijaz-ul-Haq joined the proceedings via video link, while JUI-F staged a boycott.
During today’s discussions, consultations on the establishment of a Constitutional Court have been completed. The proposed court would serve as a specialized body to interpret constitutional matters and resolve disputes between the federation and provinces. Ongoing deliberations are focused on Article 243 and Article 200, with the committee expected to approve the draft amendment later today.
Senator Farooq H. Naik emphasized that all parties have the right to present their views, and decisions will be made according to majority opinion. He noted that proposals from PML-N and MQM are under consideration, and the finalized draft will be presented in the House by 5 pm.
However, leaders from PTI, JUI-F, MWM, and PKMAP are absent, continuing their boycott of the joint committee. This absence highlights the political divide surrounding the amendment, though the ruling coalition appears determined to move forward.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment is expected to bring significant changes, including the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court and reforms to judicial and administrative structures.