ISLAMABAD: The draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has surfaced, proposing several changes in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
According to this, it is proposed to give the post of Chief of Defense Forces to the Army Chief.
The constitutional powers will be withdrawn from the Supreme Court and handed over to the Federal Constitutional Court.
Articles 42 and 59 of the Constitution are being amended in the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
In addition, in Clause 5 of Article 63A of the Constitution, the word Supreme is being changed to Federal Constitutional.
Under the 27th Amendment, it is proposed to establish a ‘Federal Constitutional Court’.
The Federal Constitutional Court will interpret the Constitution and decide constitutional disputes.
The draft states that the constitutional powers will be withdrawn from the Supreme Court and given to the Federal Constitutional Court, and Article 184 of the Constitution will be abolished.
The power of the suo motu notice will end. Constitutional cases will no longer be heard by the Supreme Court, but by the Federal Constitutional Court.
The Supreme Court will remain a court of appeals and general cases only.
According to the current draft, the Federal Constitutional Court will have equal representation from the Chief Justice and the four provinces, the term of the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court will be fixed for 3 years, and the status of the post of Chief Justice of Pakistan will be limited.
The draft proposes the division of powers between the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, and the decisions of the Constitutional Court will be binding on all courts in the country.
Proposal to give the post of Chief of Defense Staff to the Army Chief
The draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment proposes a major change in the military structure. It is proposed to abolish the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and give the post of “Chief of Defense Forces” to the Army Chief.
Under the constitutional amendment, Field Marshal and other high military posts will get life status.
The Prime Minister and the President will have a key role in the appointment of judges, and the proposed amendment
The 27th Amendment will also change the procedure for appointing judges.
The Judicial Commission will include both the Federal Constitutional Court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister and the President will have a key role in the appointment, and the Parliament will have the authority to determine the number of judges of the Constitutional Court
