Islamabad, November 8, 2025: Details of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, presented in the Senate earlier today, have surfaced, revealing wide-ranging reforms across 48 articles of the Constitution of Pakistan.
According to the draft, the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been abolished, and a new position titled Chief of Defence Forces has been proposed under Article 243. One of the most notable provisions suggests that the rank of Field Marshal would be retained for life.
The bill also proposes that judges’ transfers be placed under the authority of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. Both the chief justices of the high courts involved in a judge’s transfer will be part of the process. The retirement age for judges of the Constitutional Court has been proposed at 68 years.
Further amendments include proposals to increase the number of provincial assembly seats in Balochistan, expand the size of provincial cabinets, and raise the number of advisers permitted in the provincial setups. The draft also suggests holding Senate elections simultaneously across the country.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the federal cabinet meeting via video link from Baku, approved the draft of the 27th Amendment. However, the agenda did not include any proposal regarding changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) award or provincial revenue shares.
Sources said that following the cabinet’s approval, the amendment was formally presented in the Senate session convened later in the day.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government had approved the proposed amendment to Article 243 in line with the Charter of Democracy.
“Under the amendment, a Federal Constitutional Court will be established,” Tarar said, adding that Parliament will make the final decision after debate and voting on the proposed constitutional changes.
He noted that the issue of judicial appointments and transfers had been widely debated in recent months.
“The bill proposes that judges’ transfers be entrusted to the Judicial Commission. Both chief justices of the concerned high courts will participate in the process,” he said.
Tarar further explained that the recent Pakistan–India military standoff had prompted a review of Pakistan’s defence command structure.
“The modern era has transformed the nature of warfare. It was deemed necessary to clarify the roles of senior defence positions,” he said.
“It was also considered essential to specify whether the title of Field Marshal should remain lifetime. Related amendments concerning the command of the armed forces will also be presented to Parliament,” Tarar added.
The law minister said that any amendments adopted with a two-thirds majority would become a permanent part of the Constitution.
