The federal government has prepared a draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The proposal, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, introduces sweeping changes to both the military command structure and the judicial system.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed that the cabinet, in a virtual session chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved the draft amendment.
A cornerstone of the amendment is the restructuring of Pakistan’s top military leadership. The draft proposes the abolition of the longstanding position of “Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee” (CJCSC). In its place, a new title, “Chief of Defence Forces,” would be established as the head of the armed forces.
Furthermore, the amendment grants lifetime status to the ranks of Field Marshal and other senior military officers. This move formalises perpetual honour for the highest echelons of military service. These changes are proposed within Article 243 of the Constitution. It affirms that the command of the Armed Forces rests with the Federal Government. Additionally, the Supreme Command vests in the President.
Read: 27th Constitutional Amendment Tabled in Pakistan Senate
The 27th Constitutional Amendment introduces comprehensive reforms to Pakistan’s judiciary. The key proposals include:
- Establishing a Federal Constitutional Court to provide equal representation for all provinces.
- Centralising appointment powers for judges under the President and Prime Minister, while empowering Parliament to set the number of judges in the new court.
- Curtailing certain Supreme Court powers by transferring specific constitutional functions to the Federal Constitutional Court.
- Setting a fixed three-year term for the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court.
These reforms aim to establish a balanced and representative legal framework, with the potential to significantly reshape constitutional interpretation in Pakistan.
