ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Senate, the upper house of parliament, on Monday approved the 27th constitutional amendment that reshapes the country’s judiciary and military command, amid a protest by opposition lawmakers.
The amendment, introduced last week, makes sweeping changes to Pakistan’s constitutional framework. It rewrites Article 243 to create the new post of Chief of Defense Forces, while abolishing the long-standing position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). Under the revised structure, the army chief will assume the constitutionally recognized top command of the armed forces.
The legislation also calls for the establishment of a Constitutional Court, reducing the powers of the country’s Supreme Court and introducing new procedures for the transfer of judges.
Opposition senators tore up copies of the bill and shouted slogans as Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented it, before staging a walkout. In a live broadcast of the proceedings, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani conducted voting on each clause and announced the final count.
“I now announce the result of voting, 64 members are in favor of the motion regarding passage of the bill and none against it,” Gilani said. “So, the motion is carried by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate and consequently the bill stands passed.”
