The Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Pakistan, on Monday approved the 27th constitutional amendment. This bill was in controversy for the last several weeks. Under this amendment, a new military post “Chief of Defense Forces” will be created in Pakistan and a new Constitutional Court will also be established.

This bill was presented in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar. The meeting was presided over by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani. The government and its allies passed this bill with two-thirds majority (64 votes). The special thing was that two opposition MPs also supported the government.

What changes will take place?

According to the amendment, now the President of Pakistan, on the advice of the Prime Minister army chief And will appoint the Chief of Defense Forces. The post of the current Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will expire on 27 November 2025. Now the power of Army Chief Asim Munir is being increased.

Under the new law, the Chief of the Pakistan Army will now also be the Chief of Defense Forces. He will appoint the head of the National Strategic Command in consultation with the Prime Minister, who will always be from the Pakistan Army.

lifetime special status

It is also proposed in this amendment that the government will be able to give ranks like Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet to officers of the Army, Air Force and Navy. Of these, the status of Field Marshal will be lifelong, that is, the one who gets this title will be called Field Marshal throughout his life.

new constitutional court

The amendment also includes a proposal to create a Federal Constitutional Court. This court will hear cases related to the Constitution. The current Supreme Court will now handle only civil and criminal cases.

Opposition opposed the bill

When the bill was presented in the Senate, MPs from Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protested. They raised slogans, tore copies of the bill and threw them towards the Law Minister, and later staged a walkout. After his exit, the government passed the bill comfortably.

Now what will be the further process

Now this amendment will be presented in the National Assembly. There are a total of 336 members in the Assembly, out of which the government already has the support of 233 MPs. 226 votes are required for two-thirds majority, which means this bill will be easily passed there too.

The government says that this will strengthen the Constitution and improve the security system of the country. Whereas the opposition alleges that this step will give more strength to the army and weaken the civilian rule.