Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar will table the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Senate today (Monday) as the upper house session convenes at 11:00 a.m. in the Parliament House.
Before the bill’s presentation, Senator Farooq H. Naik is scheduled to submit the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice to the Senate. Following approval from the upper house, the bill will be moved to the National Assembly, which has been summoned to meet at 4:00 p.m. today.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Sunday gave its approval to the Federal Constitutional Court clause after conducting a detailed, clause-by-clause review of the proposed legislation. The committee also endorsed the clause regarding the transfer of judges, stating that any judge refusing a transfer would be considered retired but would still receive a pension and other privileges.
In addition, three constitutional amendments were proposed by the government’s allied parties — the Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The ANP suggested removing the word “Khyber” from “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” to rename the province as “Pakhtunkhwa.” The MQM proposed amendments related to local councils’ funds, while the BAP recommended increasing the number of seats in the Balochistan Assembly.
However, the committee has yet to reach a consensus on these allied parties’ proposals.
Speaking to reporters, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar expressed optimism that a breakthrough on the MQM’s proposal is expected today. He added that consultations are still ongoing regarding the proposed name change of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the expansion of seats in the Balochistan Assembly.
