Islamabad, November 8, 2025: A new constitutional amendment seeking to grant the prime minister immunity from criminal proceedings while in office was presented before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice on Saturday.
The amendment, moved by PML-N MNA Anusha Rehman and Senator Zahid Khalil Sandhu, proposes to insert the term “prime minister” into Article 248 of the Constitution — the same clause that already protects the president from criminal prosecution during their tenure.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naek, discussed the proposal in detail before being adjourned. The next session of the committee will resume on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the members, saying that all political parties had been invited to share their input on the amendment. He added that consultations would continue until a consensus is achieved.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) boycotted the committee meeting, expressing strong reservations over what it called an “opaque” legislative process.
JUI-F Senator Aaliya Kamran said that despite extensive discussions surrounding the 27th Constitutional Amendment, her party had never been provided with the draft. She alleged that certain provisions withdrawn during the 26th Amendment were now being reintroduced.
“Is the National Assembly so irrelevant that the bill is being approved directly from the committee?” she asked, questioning the legitimacy of the process.
Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders also criticised the proposed constitutional changes, saying they were handed the draft during the Senate session and informed of the committee meeting later in the day.
PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar said the party had decided to boycott the proceedings, alleging that “around 50 amendments” were being pushed through without proper debate.
“It seems they want to ensure lifelong immunity for the president — and now, the prime minister as well,” he remarked.
