ISLAMABAD — The National Assembly of Pakistan on Thursday passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, despite a walkout by the opposition led by the PTI and its allies.
The bill, tabled by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, required a two-thirds majority in the 336-member lower house — a threshold comfortably achieved by the PML-N–led coalition, which commands over 230 seats, including support from the PPP, MQM, IPP, and PML-Q.
This development comes after the Senate’s approval earlier in the week, marking the amendment’s final step toward enactment.
27th Amendment Objectives
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the amendment fulfills commitments of the Charter of Democracy, especially:
- Establishing Constitutional Courts.
- Amending Article 243 to provide constitutional protection to the rank of Field Marshal.
“We hoped for a unified vote, but the majority has spoken,” Bilawal said, urging lawmakers to strengthen democratic institutions through consensus.
Opposition Uproar and Walkout
As Minister Tarar addressed the Assembly, PTI members surged toward the Speaker’s dais, waving placards and chanting slogans for Imran Khan. Several lawmakers tore up copies of the bill, calling the legislation “undemocratic” and “politically motivated.”
Opposition leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticized the government, calling the amendment “a lethal poison for democracy.”
Government Defends the Move
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the passage, slamming the opposition’s “selective outrage.”
“The same party that once undermined Parliament now calls due process undemocratic,” he said, adding that the amendment strengthens constitutional clarity and judicial accountability.
He urged opposition members to participate in legislative debate instead of “street politics.”
Senate Passage and Political Impact
Earlier, the Senate approved the 27th Amendment with 64 votes in favor and none against, though the opposition boycotted proceedings.
The amendment’s ratification fulfills constitutional requirements, making it one of the most significant legal changes since the 18th Amendment.
Political analysts say the move will have lasting implications for judicial reform, executive authority, and institutional balance in Pakistan’s governance system.
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