Pakistan Constitutional Amendments:

What I find disappointing is instead of making a silent condemnation at best for this move, some members call the opposing voices to amendments as cultists of IK / PTI.

Introspection perhaps.

My 2 cents on this topic is ends here.
 
You bet if Imran was the current PM, then these same people reflexively objecting would be supporting this move. Imran never showed a shred of collective wisdom in his thought processes while he was the PM and he was already engineering a behind the scenes 'arrangement' with some top Generals to prolong his power for the next ten years.
In his own words, he offered lifetime extension to Bajwa. Just imagine!
 

7 judges on the shortlist for Federal Constitutional Court

Malik Asad
November 10, 2025

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The Federal Shariat Court, located opposite the Supreme Court building, will house the new FCC.—Tanveer Shahzad/White Star


• Constitutional Bench head Justice Aminuddin Khan among leading candidates for top slot
• Federal court will have exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional matters


ISLAMABAD: With the 27th Constitutional Amendment progressing smoothly through parliament, the government has begun restructuring the superior judiciary, shortlisting seven judges for appointment to the proposed Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) — an institution designed to deal with constitutional interpretation and intergovernmental disputes.

Official sources said the government has initiated consultations on the composition of the new court, and Justice Aminuddin Khan, who presently heads the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench, is being considered for appointment as the chief justice of the FCC.

The names of Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Aamer Farooq, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi from the Supreme Court, along with Justice K.K. Agha of the Sindh High Court and Justice Rozi Khan Barrech, the incumbent chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, are also being discussed for inclusion in the initial composition of the new court.

Sources said that the initial strength of the FCC would be determined through a Presidential Order, while any subsequent increase in the number of judges would require an Act of Parliament.
 
Originally the proposed amendment also included rollback of constitutional safeguards for provincial shares in state revenues determined by the National Finance Commission Award, which guarantees they are not reduced. While the fiscal logic for this was understandable as the federal government is left with limited resources to meet its expenditure, the PPP opposed this as unacceptable erosion of the 18th Amendment. This was then dropped from the amendment but with ministers indicating it might be taken up later.

Why would the PPP let go of the ill gotten bounties from the 18th Amendment? They are enjoying the largesse. Don't give them what they want they are not going to support the new Bill and if kicked out of power, there comes the Sindhi nationalism, on the street and in the 'long marches'.
Sick of these people!
 
What I find disappointing is instead of making a silent condemnation at best for this move, some members call the opposing voices to amendments as cultists of IK / PTI.
What’s the big deal? Just call back those who support these "amendments" as the cultists of army or boot lickers. 🙄
 
In his own words, he offered lifetime extension to Bajwa. Just imagine!
How could he, when Hazrat Asim Muneer wanted the same for himself as per the 27th amendment? 🙄
 

Senate approves 27th Constitutional Amendment amid opposition uproar​


PTI, JUI senators boycott and walk out of session

Amna Ali/Waqas Ahmad/Naeem Asghar/Usama IqbalNovember 10, 2025


tribune



Farooq Hamid Naek, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, on Monday presented a report on the 27th Constitutional Amendment before the upper house of parliament.

A joint meeting of the Senate and the National Assembly's law and justice standing committees had approved the amendment bill with minor tweaks, amid an opposition boycott yesterday. Naek briefed the House on the deliberations regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying the joint committee session included all members and special invitees who proposed certain amendments.

Naek tabled the report in the Senate today, with Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani presiding over the proceedings.

“The opposition should also be called for these discussions,” he added. “The deliberations went on for two full days, often extending into the evening. The bill, as presented to the Senate by the committee, has undergone numerous changes”.

Opposition members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged strong protests in the chamber, tearing up copies of the bill and chanting slogans in front of the chairman’s dais.

Senator Hamid Khan told reporters that PTI and JUI senators had boycotted the session, claiming establishment pressure had influenced some lawmakers to side with the government.
 
In his own words, he offered lifetime extension to Bajwa. Just imagine!

As I keep saying, we can all benefits from reading the archives of Dawn.com from late 2021 through mid April 2022 to truly understand what happened around the ouster of Imran from power. He was not a democrat at all; a one-man show to the point that even in this pro PTI forum, a Poll says that PTI is not likely to survive without Imran.
 
Federal Constitutional Court (FCC)
The original bill proposed establishing the FCC in place of the existing Constitutional Bench (CB). The committee revised this to ensure equal representation for all provinces, with the Islamabad High Court also having a representative.

High Court Judge eligibility
The bill initially required judges appointed to the Constitutional Court to have served at least seven years in a High Court. The committee reduced this requirement to five years.

Seniority of Judges
For sitting Supreme Court judges appointed to the FCC, seniority will remain as it currently exists. For new appointments from High Courts, seniority will be counted from the day they assume office. If multiple judges take office on the same day, seniority will be determined by age.
 
Judicial Commission Representation
The committee retained representation for women and non-Muslims in the Judicial Commission and added representation for technocrats. If the Speaker nominates a member, priority can be given to a woman, non-Muslim, or technocrat.

Suo Motu powers
The FCC will have the authority to approve the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers if deemed appropriate.

Article 199 – Revenue matters
To address backlog issues, the committee introduced a six-month limit on interim stay orders in tax cases. If a case is not concluded within one year, the stay order will be vacated.
 
Transfer of Judges
Previously, transfers of High Court judges required the President’s approval with the consent of the Chief Justices of the courts involved. Under the revised proposal, transfers will be managed by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, including input from parliamentarians, civil society, and the Pakistan Bar Council. Judges will be given an opportunity for a hearing before transfers are finalized.

Presidential Immunity
The bill originally proposed lifetime immunity for the President. Currently, the President has immunity only during their term. The committee has now approved lifetime immunity against criminal proceedings, with a caveat: the immunity will not apply if the individual holds public office after elections. However, it will be restored once they leave office.
 
Initial draft of 27th Amendment

Article 248 – Presidential Immunity


  • A new clause grants the President lifetime legal immunity.
  • Phrase “Notwithstanding any judgment of any court” to be inserted before the word “President” in clause (1).
  • Clause (2) revised: No criminal proceedings shall be initiated or continued against the President for life, and against a Governor during their term.
Article 243 – Defence structure & appointments


  • President, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, to appoint:
Chief of the Army Staff, concurrently Chief of the Defence Forces
Chiefs of the Navy and Air Staff
President to determine their salaries and allowances.

  • Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to be abolished from November 27, 2025.
  • Strategic military authority to be concentrated under the Chief of the Defence Forces.
  • Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Forces, to appoint the Commander of the National Strategic Command.
  • Officers granted constitutional protection; can only be removed through Article 47 procedure.
  • Presidential immunity under Article 248 extended to these officers.
  • Federal government is to define its responsibilities, while the President (on PM’s advice) sets salaries and privileges.
Article 200 – Transfer of High Court Judges

  • President empowered to transfer High Court judges between provinces on Judicial Commission’s recommendation. Commission to include the Chief Justices of both relevant High Courts.
  • Transferred judge’s seniority counts from initial appointment date.
  • No transfer may make a judge senior to the Chief Justice of the transferee High Court.
  • A judge refusing transfer shall be deemed retired.
 

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