ISLAMABAD: The Senate, the upper house of Pakistan parliament, on Monday passed the 27th constitutional amendment with two-thirds majority, amid a protest by opposition members.
The draft amendment tabled last week introduces several far-reaching changes. It rewrites Article 243 of the Constitution to create the new post of Chief of Defense Forces, abolishing the long-standing role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Committee (CJCSC). The army chief would be elevated to the constitutionally recognized top command of Pakistan’s armed services, while the president would formally appoint the army, navy and air chiefs on the prime minister’s advice.
The amendment also proposes establishing a constitutional court, revising procedures on the transfer of judges and altering the framework that governs how federal revenue is shared with provinces. The proposed changes to the National
Finance Commission (NFC) award, which governs how federal tax revenues are divided among provinces, are particularly sensitive because they underpin Pakistan’s federal structure and provincial fiscal autonomy.
