SC Justice Minallah calls on CJ Afridi to convene a judicial conference to discuss amendments
The 27th constitutional amendment is expected to be approved today, with a vote in the National Assembly scheduled for 5 p.m. 11 a.m. Legal and political circles have begun to protest the move, with demonstrations spread across the country.
The NA consists of 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members is 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden number” of 224 votes.
MQM leader Syed Mustafa Kamal said his party’s proposal regarding local governments was not included in the 27th Amendment but would be part of the upcoming 28th Amendment.
Currently, the ruling alliance has the support of 237 members in NA. PML-N is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement with 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid with 5, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party with 4 and one member each from Pakistan Muslim League-Zia and Balochistan Awami Party. The government also enjoys the support of four independent members.
However, the National Party, which is part of the ruling coalition, has decided not to vote for the constitutional amendment.
With 74 members, the PPP is the second largest party in the coalition. Its support has been crucial in helping the federal government secure not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when required.
Read: Silence Means Complicity: Justice Minallah’s Sharp Warning to CJP on Threats to Judicial Independence
On the other hand, the opposition benches include a total of 89 members. These include 75 independents, 10 members from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Pakistan) and one member each from Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Akwami Party (PMAKwami).
As the governing coalition has enough numbers, the amendments will soon become a reality. The 27th constitutional amendment includes 59 clauses and about 47-48 consequential amendments, with a vote following debate.
The national meeting
During yesterday’s National Assembly, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz tabled the 27th constitutional amendment, which was passed by the Senate on Monday.
The key takeaways from the session were that the amendment constitutionally protects Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s rank, given in recognition of his professional excellence, and that any decision to withdraw the title could only be made by a joint session of Parliament.
Read more: Government presents 27th constitutional amendment proposal amid protests and votes today
He added that the President of Pakistan would enjoy lifetime immunity under Article 248, although such immunity would not apply to holding public office after retirement.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly opposed the amendment, saying, “Constitutional amendments should strengthen democracy, not bury it.” He said the amendment would weaken the judiciary instead of strengthening it, adding: “Today is a day of mourning for democracy.”
Voices of protest
Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah has called on Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to convene a judicial conference to have an open dialogue on threats to the independence of the judiciary. In the 7-page letter titled “Moment of Reckoning,” Justice Minallah presents an overview of the checkered history of the Supreme Court, which he said has too often bowed to might and power rather than standing on the side of the people.
As the protest voices reached Sindh, the Sindh government imposed Section 144 in the province. The Sindh Action Committee took to the streets in all districts of Sindh, joining the legal fraternity, blasting the 27th Amendment.
Addressing the rally at the Hyderabad Press Club, Sindh United Party’s Roshan Ali Burio stated that the legislation will clip the wings of the judiciary by not allowing the bench to function independently.
“The freedom of speech and the independence of the judiciary were usurped through the 26th amendment and now the powers that be will go a step further,” he claimed. The Hyderabad police tried to disperse the protesters and also detained over a dozen of them, with charges of violation of Section 144.
The protest resumed, this time at the Sindh High Court Bar Association, where they threatened to block the Hyderabad Bypass if the arrested protesters were not released.
Similar demonstrations took place in all districts and cities of the province. The protesters gathered outside the Larkana Press Club and shouted slogans against the incumbent government in Islamabad and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for spearheading the change.
Read also: Ex-CJP Jawwad S Khawaja challenges 27th amendment in SC
Protests against the amendment are expected in Islamabad today, outside the G11 courthouses.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has launched a fierce attack on the government’s sweeping constitutional reforms, accusing ministers of “distorting” the nation’s founding document and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the party’s ameer, vowed to continue fighting to restore what he described as the original integrity of the constitution after the 27th constitutional amendment passed the Senate on Monday.
Addressing members of the Lahore Bar Association at Aiwan-e-Adl, Rehman said his party had consistently defended the constitution throughout Pakistan’s history, but warned that these changes would give the executive branch decisive control over judicial appointments and the separation of powers.
The amendment proposes four key changes to the constitution.
Articles 199 and 200
- The President has the power to transfer High Court judges between provinces on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission
- A judge who refuses transfer is considered retired
Article 248
- A new clause gives the president lifelong legal immunity
Article 243
- The office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will be abolished as of 27 November 2025.
- Strategic military authority to be concentrated under the Chief of Defense Forces.
- Officials granted constitutional protection can only be removed through the Article 47 procedure.
- Presidential immunity under Article 248 extended to these officers.
Federal Constitutional Courts (New Chapter – Part VII)
- FCC to have original jurisdiction over unconstitutional disputes between government and fundamental rights enforcement cases
- Pending petitions or appeals in the Supreme Court or its constitutional courts under this jurisdiction must be transferred to the FCC.
- Abolishes SC suo motu powers and deletes Article 184, 186 and 191A.
