Overview
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled the 59‑clause bill in the National Assembly after the Senate approved it with 64 votes, and the ruling coalition says it has the numbers for a two‑thirds majority.
- The draft establishes a Federal Constitutional Court, reallocates core constitutional jurisdiction away from the Supreme Court, and channels suo motu and judicial transfers through an expanded Judicial Commission.
- Military changes include creating a Chief of Defence Forces vested in the Army chief, abolishing the Chairman Joint Chiefs role, and conferring lifetime Field Marshal status, alongside a provision to grant the president lifetime immunity.
- Opposition parties protested and boycotted proceedings, PTI and JI leaders called the package a blow to judicial independence, and 38 former Supreme Court law clerks urged the Chief Justice to convene a Full Court response.
- Ex–Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja petitioned the Supreme Court to void and suspend provisions curbing the top court’s powers, as government figures also signaled a follow‑on 28th Amendment focused on governance themes.