ISLAMABAD:The National Assembly on Tuesday initiated debate over the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, with treasury benches describing it as a historic step toward strengthening the constitutional framework, enhancing judicial transparency, and ensuring inclusive representation across all federating units.
Opposition members, however, rejected the amendment, arguing it could undermine judicial independence.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Gohar Ali Khan said the proposed changes would harm the judiciary and rejected the bill outright.
Participating in the debate, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Central Spokesperson Shazia Atta Marri said the government had formally consulted the PPP before presenting the amendment.
She said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by his team, met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari to brief them on the draft, which Bilawal later shared publicly on social media on November 3 as an example of transparency.
Shazia Marri said that all parliamentary procedures must be followed, with the Law and Justice Committees of both Houses reviewing the draft once officially tabled, allowing open debate and contributions from all members.