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Government Tables 27th Amendment in Senate as Protests Erupt; Draft Sent to Committee

PPP signals support for an Article 243 revision plus a constitutional court in principle, leaving the rest to hard bargaining in a narrowly split Senate.

Overview

  • Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the bill, and Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani sent it to the Law and Justice Committee after opposition senators demanded a full-house debate and staged noisy protests.
  • The draft proposes a federal constitutional court and changes to judicial appointments and transfers, with defense-related revisions under Article 243 included in the package.
  • PPP has endorsed only the Article 243 change and the court concept while rejecting most other clauses, citing concerns over provincial autonomy and finance arrangements.
  • Government figures said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a cabinet meeting by video from Baku that approved the draft before it was tabled in the upper house.
  • Allies such as MQM and PML‑Q have signaled support, but opposition parties held emergency huddles, and the government still must secure a two‑thirds majority in a closely divided Senate.