National Assembly to vote on 27th constitutional amendment today

The National Assembly’s session has been convened today (Wednesday) at 11am to take up the 27th constitutional amendment bill for clause-by-clause approval.

The session was called at the Parliament House in Islamabad, during which the 27th amendment bill—tabled in the Lower House a day earlier—will be considered for approval.

A total of 224 votes is required for the amendment to be passed by the parliament, while the government currently enjoys the support of 237 members.

Earlier on Monday, the Senate – the upper house of the parliament – had approved the bill as two dissenting members from Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and Jamiat e Ulema e Islam voted in favour of the bill against their party’s directives.

On Tuesday, the assembly proceedings were marred by uproar. However, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while moving the motion related to the 27th amendment, said that the suo motu powers had become a “monster” in the past, adding that clearer limits on judicial authority would make the process of justice more transparent and effective.

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the amendment went against the basic structure of democracy, while JUI-F’s Shahida Akhtar Ali maintained that several points in the amendment were added without public consultation.