Overview
- After cabinet approval chaired virtually by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from Baku, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the bill in the Senate, which sent it to the Law and Justice Committee and a joint parliamentary panel.
- The proposal would create a Federal Constitutional Court with equal provincial representation and assume some constitutional functions now exercised by the Supreme Court, including suo motu jurisdiction.
- Judicial appointments and transfers would be overhauled, shifting transfer authority to the Judicial Commission and redefining the roles of the president and prime minister in appointments.
- The military section would abolish the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and establish a Chief of Defence Forces, to be held by the Army Chief, with changes slated to take effect on November 27 and lifetime honorary ranks protected from revocation except by Parliament.
- The government says there will be no immediate vote and opposition input will be sought, as the PPP maintains objections to several clauses and opposition lawmakers and lawyers warn of risks to judicial independence and provincial autonomy.