SC Justice Minallah asks CJ Afridi to convene judicial conference to discuss amendment
The 27th Constitutional Amendment is expected to be approved today, with a vote in the National Assembly scheduled for 11am. Judicial and political circles have begun to protest against the measure and demonstrations have spread throughout the country.
The AN is made up of 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members rises to 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden figure” of 224 votes.
MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal said his party’s suggestions regarding local governments were not included in the 27th Amendment but would be part of the upcoming 28th Amendment Bill.
Currently, the ruling alliance has the support of 237 AN members. The PML-N is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement with 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid with 5, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party with 4 and one member each from Pakistan Muslim League-Zia and Balochistan Awami Party. The government is also supported by four independent members.
However, the National Party, part of the ruling coalition, decided not to vote in favor of the constitutional amendment.
The PPP, with 74 members, is the second largest party within the coalition. Your support has been crucial in helping the federal government achieve not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when necessary.
Read: Silence means complicity: Judge Minallah’s harsh warning to CJP over threats to judicial independence
On the other hand, the opposition benches have a total of 89 members. These include 75 independents, 10 members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Pakistan) and one member each of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
Since the government coalition has enough members, the approval of the amendments will soon become a reality. The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill consists of 59 clauses and 47 to 48 consequential amendments, and will be voted on after debate.
National Assembly Session
During yesterday’s session of the National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz presented the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which was passed by the Senate on Monday.
The main conclusions of the session were that the amendment constitutionally protects Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s rank, awarded in recognition of his professional excellence, and that any decision to withdraw the title could only be taken in a joint session of parliament.
Read more: The government presents the 27th constitutional amendment bill amid protests and it is voted on today
He added that the President of Pakistan would enjoy lifetime immunity under Article 248, although such immunity would not apply to holding public office after retirement.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly opposed the amendment, saying that “constitutional changes should strengthen democracy, not bury it.” He said the amendment would weaken the judiciary rather than empower it, adding: “Today is a day of mourning for democracy.”
Voices of protest
Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah has asked Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to convene a judicial conference to maintain an open dialogue on threats to the independence of the judiciary. In the seven-page letter titled “Time of Reckoning,” Justice Minallah presents an overview of the checkered history of the high court, which he says has too often bowed to power and might rather than siding with the people.
When the voices of protest reached Sindh, the Sindh government imposed Section 144 in the province. The Sindh Action Committee took to the streets in all districts of Sindh, along with the legal fraternity, and criticized the 27th Amendment.
Addressing the rally at the Hyderabad Press Club, Sindh United Party’s Roshan Ali Burio stated that the legislation will clip the wings of the judiciary by not allowing the court to function independently.
“Freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary were taken away by the 26th amendment, and now the rulers want to go one step further,” he alleged. The Hyderabad police tried to disperse the protesters and also arrested more than a dozen of them, accusing them of violating Section 144.
The protest resumed, this time at the Sindh High Court Bar Association, where they threatened to block the Hyderabad Ring Road if the detained protesters were not released.
Similar demonstrations took place in all districts and towns of the province. Protesters gathered outside the Larkana Press Club, chanting slogans against the current Islamabad government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for spearheading the amendment.
Also read: Ex-CJP Jawwad S Khawaja challenges 27th Amendment in South Carolina
Protests against the amendment are expected today in Islamabad, in front of the G11 courts.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has launched a fierce attack on the government’s sweeping constitutional reforms, accusing ministers of “distorting” the nation’s founding document and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.
Party member Hafiz Naeemur Rehman vowed to continue fighting to restore what he described as the original integrity of the constitution after the 27th Constitutional Amendment was passed by the Senate on Monday.
Speaking before members of the Lahore Bar Association at Aiwan-e-Adl, Rehman said his party had consistently defended the constitution throughout Pakistan’s history, but warned that these changes would give the executive branch decisive control over judicial appointments and the distribution of power.
The Amendment proposes four fundamental changes to the Constitution.
Article 199 and 200
- The president has the power to transfer High Court judges between provinces on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission.
- The judge who denies the transfer will be considered retired.
Article 248
- A new clause grants the President lifetime legal immunity
Article 243
- The Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished effective November 27, 2025.
- Strategic military authority will be concentrated in the Chief of the Defense Forces.
- Officials granted constitutional protection can only be removed through the Article 47 procedure.
- Presidential immunity under Article 248 was extended to these officials.
Federal Constitutional Courts (New Chapter – Part VII)
- The FCC will have original jurisdiction in constitutional disputes between the government and cases involving the application of fundamental rights
- Petitions or appeals pending in the Supreme Court or its constitutional chambers under this jurisdiction must be transferred to the FCC.
- It abolishes the suo motu powers of the SC and abolishes Articles 184, 186 and 191A.
