Islamabad, November 9,2025: The joint parliamentary committee on law and justice has approved key amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution, including provisions for the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court and lifetime immunity for the President, sources said on Sunday.
According to insiders, the committee gave its approval after extensive consultations as part of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. Three additional amendments were also introduced by government-allied parties during the committee’s latest session.
Sources said the draft of the 27th Amendment has undergone a detailed review, with final decisions on the newly proposed amendments expected by Monday.
Coalition partners, including the Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), presented their proposals during the meeting. The ANP’s proposal to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the BNP’s call to increase the number of Balochistan Assembly seats remain under discussion, with more time sought for deliberation.
The committee also approved an amendment extending the timeframe for disposing of pending cases from six months to one year. Cases not pursued within that period will be considered automatically disposed of.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar told reporters that work on the clauses of the 27th Amendment was “nearly complete,” confirming that discussions on the renaming of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other proposals were ongoing. He said suggestions from the MQM and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) were still under review.
The constitutional amendment will require two-thirds support in both houses of parliament — 64 votes in the Senate and 224 in the National Assembly. Opposition senators, numbering around 30, are expected to oppose the move.
In a separate development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to host a dinner for coalition senators to consolidate support for the amendment.
The prime minister said the proposed constitutional changes aim to strengthen federal-provincial relations and serve the broader national interest. He praised all coalition partners, including the PPP, MQM, and IPP, for their “constructive input and cooperation” in finalising the draft.
