Key features of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment have surfaced, unveiling the government’s plan to establish a Constitutional Court dedicated exclusively to handling constitutional matters.
According to official sources, the new court will initially comprise seven judges with a retirement age of 68 years, three years higher than that of Supreme Court judges. Of these, five judges will be selected from the existing Supreme Court, while a few High Court judges are also being considered for appointment.
Sources further indicated that Justice Aminuddin Khan is likely to be appointed as the head of the Constitutional Court. The formation of this court aims to ensure the speedy resolution of constitutional disputes and reduce the caseload of the Supreme Court.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the location of the new court, with two options under consideration — setting it up in the Islamabad High Court building (with the High Court potentially relocated to its former site in Sector G-9), or housing it in the Federal Shariat Court building, in which case the Federal Service Tribunal may be shifted to the first floor.
The amendment also proposes the creation of a new post — Commander of Defence Forces — under changes to Article 243 of the Constitution. The position would define the tenure and responsibilities of the role, aiming to ensure greater coordination and unified command among Pakistan’s three armed forces.
Officials noted that the concept of a Constitutional Court was first agreed upon between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) under the 2006 Charter of Democracy.
Negotiations between coalition partners over the details of the 27th Constitutional Amendment are still ongoing.
