ISLAMABAD; The National Assembly session on Monday was adjourned until tomorrow without the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill being tabled, even after it had cleared the Senate.
PPP MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf faced disruptions from opposition lawmakers as he addressed the house, defending the clause on presidential immunity, saying such provisions are standard practice in many countries.
He criticized the opposition, asserting that those challenging the treasury benches had themselves violated the Constitution.
During his speech, PTI members chanted slogans against Ashraf and the PPP, while praising former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Ashraf responded that the opposition was only satisfied when creating chaos in the house and warned that treasury members would react similarly to any speaker from the other side.
Following Ashraf, JUI-F MNA Aliya Kamran questioned the haste in passing the bill, emphasizing that not all stakeholders had been consulted. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi paid tribute to the army chief, praising Pakistan’s global respect due to the sacrifices of its armed forces and martyrs.
He affirmed Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism wherever it exists.
Earlier, the government and its coalition partners had secured a two-thirds majority in the Senate following the defection of two opposition members.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the controversial bill, and Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over the proceedings. Opposition members protested, chanting slogans, tearing copies of the bill, and walking out, which cleared the way for its passage.
A joint meeting of the Senate and National Assembly law and justice committees, boycotted by the opposition, approved the bill with minor changes. Senator Farooq H. Naek presented the committee’s report to the Upper House.
The bill, tabled on Saturday after cabinet approval, proposes the establishment of a federal constitutional court and grants lifetime status to the field marshal rank.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar noted that key amendments, including changes to Article 243 concerning military command, were approved amicably. However, proposals from MQM to amend Article 140 on local governments and ANP’s suggestion to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were deferred.
The ANP argued that ‘Khyber’ refers to a district, unlike other provinces whose names do not include districts. Similarly, Balochistan National Party’s request to increase provincial seats in Parliament was postponed.
ANP’s Hidayatullah Khan told reporters that the committee requested more time to decide on the KP name change, and the law minister confirmed that provinces would be consulted on the matter.
