ISLAMABAD: The standing committees on law and justice from both houses of Parliament, meeting jointly, approved nearly 80 percent of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which includes important judicial reforms.
However, deliberations on the constitutional status of a field marshal under Article 243 were postponed until Sunday (today).
Furthermore, the joint session, chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naek, continued its proceedings despite a boycott by two members of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) — Senator Kamran Murtaza and MNA Aliya Kamran.
The JUI-F lawmakers walked out in protest, alleging that certain clauses previously dropped during the 26th Amendment process were being reintroduced, calling the move a “breach of trust.”
The committees reviewed key provisions of the judicial reforms package, including the establishment of a proposed federal constitutional court.
It was agreed that the initial strength of the court would be determined through a presidential order, while any future expansion would require an act of Parliament.
The committees also examined mechanisms for transferring high court judges through the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP).
In this proposed system, such transfers might not require the consent of the judges concerned, a point expected to be finalized in the coming sessions.
Moreover, Senator Naek confirmed that despite the JUI-F’s absence, the committees continued to make progress.
“Around 80 percent of the proposed amendments have been reviewed. We addressed the reservations of several members, built consensus on most points, and resolved many ambiguities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Naek further clarified that the committees had not yet taken up discussions on Article 243, which pertains to the status of a field marshal, but assured that the matter would be reviewed in detail during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
