Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered his party senators to withdraw the clause seeking immunity for the Prime Minister from criminal cases, calling it inconsistent with the cabinet-approved draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) after returning from Azerbaijan, PM Shehbaz penned said he was informed that some party senators had presented a clause proposing immunity for the PM in the Senate — a clause not included in the version approved by the federal cabinet.
“I thank the esteemed senators for their sincerity but have instructed them to withdraw this amendment immediately,” Shehbaz stated. “The elected Prime Minister is accountable to the law and to the people’s court.”
Standing committee meeting underway
Meanwhile, the joint standing committee of the Senate and National Assembly on Law and Justice has begun reviewing the provisions of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. The meeting, which started an hour late, saw no participation from opposition members, who boycotted in protest.
Committee Chairman Farooq H. Naik expressed hope that discussions on the draft would be completed before 5 p.m. and that a consensus document could be presented soon.
Opposition Boycott
Opposition parties have announced a nationwide movement against the proposed amendment. The announcement came during a joint press conference by Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas, who warned that the amendment could “paralyze democratic institutions” and distort the spirit of the Constitution.
JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza confirmed he would not attend the committee meeting, citing the “undue urgency” in pushing the amendment. He added that his party’s boycott of the proceedings would continue.
Key Provisions of proposed 27th Amendment
A major change proposed in the amendment is the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court with equal representation from all four provinces. This court will interpret the Constitution and decide constitutional disputes, while the Supreme Court will act primarily as a court of appeals.
The President will appoint the Chief Justice and judges of the Constitutional Court, whose decisions will be binding on all courts. Judges will hold office until the age of 68, and the Chief Justice will serve a three-year term.
Also Read: Salient features of 27th Amendment: All details you need to know
Article 184, which gives the Supreme Court suo motu powers, will be abolished under the amendment.
The draft also grants lifetime immunity to the President from criminal proceedings. Similarly, governors will be immune from criminal prosecution during their term, and no court will have the authority to order their arrest or imprisonment.
