Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority, marking one of the most significant constitutional reforms in recent years. All 59 clauses of the bill were approved during a charged parliamentary session that saw strong opposition protests and a complete boycott by PTI members.
The landmark amendment introduces major structural changes to the country’s governance and defence framework. Most notably, it establishes the new position of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a unified command role to oversee the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and creates a Federal Constitutional Court, aimed at resolving constitutional matters more effectively.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were present in the assembly during the voting process. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill, describing it as a step toward modernizing Pakistan’s constitutional institutions and fulfilling long-standing democratic commitments.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers voiced strong objections, tearing copies of the bill and chanting slogans against the government. They criticized the rapid passage and demanded greater parliamentary debate on clauses related to defence and judiciary reforms.
With parliamentary approval secured, the bill now awaits President Asif Ali Zardari’s signature to formally become law.
Once enacted, the 27th Amendment will mark a new chapter in Pakistan’s constitutional evolution, reshaping the country’s judicial and military command structures for the first time in decades.
