ISLAMABAD: The federal government has moved to expand the scope of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, presenting fresh changes in the National Assembly, Express News reported. Separate lists of amendments have been prepared by both the government and the opposition, with voting scheduled during the ongoing session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
Once approved, the revised bill will be sent back to the Senate, which convened a day earlier than planned, holding its session at 5 p.m. today. Among the most significant proposals is a possible change to Article 6 of the Constitution, specifically Clause 2A, dealing with acts of sedition. Sources indicate that the Federal Constitutional Court will be formally named alongside the Supreme Court, ensuring that no act of sedition mentioned in Sub‑clauses 1 or 2 can be ratified by any court, including the High Courts.
Government officials confirmed that multiple new amendments have been introduced, while eleven opposition proposals are also on the agenda. In parallel, action on the resignation of PTI defector Senator Saifullah Abro has been halted, as the Chairman Senate has not signed the resignation, preventing a reference under Article 63A.
Political consultations have intensified around the amendment. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar met with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, joined by senior leaders including Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Murtaza Wahab, and the Attorney General. Following the meeting, Bilawal told reporters he would address specific concerns in his speech, while Tarar noted that “two or three good proposals” were under discussion and confirmed that voting would take place today.
Tarar further clarified that if ambiguities arise, they will be debated in the National Assembly, stressing that under Article 239, Parliament alone holds the authority to amend the Constitution. He rejected suggestions that judges were “rewriting” the document, emphasizing that the Constitutional Court has no such mandate.
Later, Bilawal Bhutto held a consultation with his legal team, including Sherry Rehman and Farooq H. Naik, as the government signaled its intent to establish the Federal Constitutional Court soon after the amendment’s passage.