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1h ago

Pakistan’s 27th Amendment Draws Court Challenges After Lower House Approval

Opponents argue the package weakens judicial independence by shifting constitutional cases to a new court.

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Pakistan's parliament approved a sweeping constitutional amendment granting lifetime immunity to the president as well as the current army chief
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Overview

  • The National Assembly passed the revised amendment with 234 votes after opposition protests and a walkout.
  • The government has tabled the updated text in the Senate for reconsideration and scheduled a cabinet meeting to align existing laws.
  • Petitions filed in the Supreme Court by former CJP Jawwad S. Khawaja and a group of lawyers seek suspension of provisions creating a Federal Constitutional Court and curtailing Article 184(3) jurisdiction.
  • A separate petition in the Sindh High Court challenges the changes for allegedly violating separation of powers and judicial independence.
  • The package establishes a Federal Constitutional Court, revises Article 6 to add the constitutional court and bar validation of high treason, preserves the incumbent CJP’s title, sets a new seniority rule for future CJPs, and confers a new CDF title with lifetime legal immunity on the army chief.