In partnership with
Profit
NA pAsses 27th AmeNdmeNt with two-thirds mAjority Amid heAted debAte, oppositioN wAlkout Thursday, 13 November, 2025 | 21 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
g
AMENDMENT CREATES FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, RESHAPES JUDICIAL HIERARCHY WITH CJP AFRIDI TO CONTINUE TENURE UNDER NEW PROVISIONS
g
PM SHEHBAZ LAUDS NATIONAL UNITY, CONDEMNS RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ISLAMABAD AND WANA
t
ISLAMABAD
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday lashed out at the opposition for what he called their “hollow and uninformed” resistance to the 27th Constitutional Amendment, saying their criticism carried no weight since “they haven’t even read the bill.” Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Tarar said that political noise
BILAWAL BHUTTO-ZARDARI HIGHLIGHTS CHARTER OF DEMOCRACY FULFILLMENT AND MILITARY REFORMS
saleem Jadoon
HE National Assembly on Wednesday passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority in a tumultuous session attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. The bill, presented by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, was approved through a two-way voting process: division and clause-by-clause voting. The NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced 234 votes in favour and 4 against. Following passage in the lower house, the bill will return to the Senate for deliberation on the new amendments before final approval.
tarar slams opposition’s ‘hollow and uninformed’ resistance to 27th Amendment staff report
ISLAMABAD
g
KEY AMENDMENTS Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) added to the list of courts that cannot ratify high treason. The incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will retain the title during his term. The CJP will now refer to the seniormost judge among the chief justices of the Supreme Court and FCC.
and rhetoric without understanding the content of the legislation “serve no national purpose.” He maintained that the opposition had rejected an opportunity for a clause-byclause debate that could have allowed constructive input. Expressing confidence in the government’s position, Tarar said he was certain that the 27th Constitutional Amendment— set to be tabled in Parliament later today— would be approved “without any difficulty.”
PM SHEHBAZ PRAISES UNITY, CONDEMNS TERRORISM: Speaking after the vote, PM Shehbaz Sharif hailed the session as a demonstration of national unity, thanking lawmakers and paying tribute to late PML-N senator Irfan Siddiqui for his loyalty.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Opposition unveils nationwide movement against 27th Amend, vows to ‘restore judiciary powers’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
The opposition alliance on Wednesday announced a nationwide political movement beginning Friday against the recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment, vowing to restore “what they say are curtailed powers of the judiciary and the office of the Chief Justice.” Addressing the media after the National Assembly approved the amendment, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan accused the government of undermining judicial independence. “The office of the chief justice has been abolished— we will restore it,” he declared. “We will restore the dignity and powers of the judiciary.” Barrister Gohar argued that while judicial reforms may be necessary, the government’s current approach toward the judges is “unacceptable.” He said his party had raised objections during parliamentary proceedings, warning that the amendment violates the spirit of the Constitution. “This is a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary,” he added, stressing that the opposition would not allow the erosion of judicial authority. Flanked by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Barrister Gohar announced that the protest campaign would commence from Friday. Achakzai emphasized that the movement would remain peaceful, aiming to restore the “people’s mandate, which has been stolen.” He added that the campaign would combine domestic demonstra-
tions with diplomatic outreach, pledging, “We will protest and we will not even throw a stone. We will also write to foreign envoys, urging them to reconsider or rescind any agreements made with the current government.” Achakzai highlighted Pakistan’s worsening economic situation, citing a United Nations report that 45 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. He criticized the timing of parliamentary proceedings, questioning, “Would the sky fall if they postponed the session today?” He further alleged interference by “powerful external actors” attempting to destabilize Pakistan and push it toward conflict. “The world’s dangerous countries want to make us fight. We must stop the path to war,” he said, underscoring that the Constitution must remain supreme. On provincial autonomy, Achakzai insisted that provinces should retain first rights over natural resources. He called for dialogue with the government but stressed that negotiations would center on restoring the opposition’s mandate. Turning to the judiciary, he appealed to judges to resolve the crisis “with a single stroke of a pen” and warned that pressure would increase if demands were ignored. Concluding, Achakzai reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to peaceful protests, domestic mobilization, and international advocacy. “We are ready for talks, but our stance is clear—the Constitution must prevail, and the people’s mandate must be respected,” he said.
Grand Peace Jirga urges dialogue with Kabul, seeks KP role in Afghan Policy PESHAWAR
staff report
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Grand Peace Jirga on Wednesday underscored “the urgency of provincial peace and national stability,” calling on the federal government to prioritise dialogue with Afghanistan, consult the provincial government on Afghan policy, and develop a provincial action plan for lasting peace. The jirga also urged reopening trade routes, strengthening law enforcement, and establishing a Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) for equitable resource distribution. The jirga also demanded the establishment of a Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) to ensure equitable distribution of financial resources across KP, alongside strengthening law enforcement agencies to counter the recent surge in terrorist activity. Convened by the KP government to assess the province’s law and order situation, the grand jirga came nearly two weeks after a similar meeting in Khyber district on October 25, where CM Sohail Afridi had cautioned against launching any new military operations in the tribal districts.
A BROAD-BASED PARTICIPATION: The gathering, chaired by KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem
Swati, drew former governors, chief ministers, tribal elders, lawmakers, representatives of all political parties in KP—both provincial and national assembly members—legal experts, business leaders, media representatives, and civil society members. Attendees submitted written recommendations and shared insights during speeches, with a strong consensus in favour of engaging the Afghan Taliban regime for lasting peace, including consultation with the provincial government before federal decisions impacting KP. Participants also emphasised resolving differences between the federal and provincial authorities for the broader public interest. Following hours of deliberation, the jirga issued a declaration condemning terrorist attacks in KP, especially in the merged districts, and urged the provincial government to utilise all available resources to eliminate militancy. Lawmakers demanded in-camera briefings on ongoing counterterrorism operations, alongside immediate implementation of all KP Assembly resolutions for peace. They proposed the creation of peace forums incorporating youth, women, minorities, and politicians, and recommended linking the PFC with the National Finance Commission (NFC) to ensure financial stability and local government empowerment.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 127 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
g
PTI CRITICIZES JUDICIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL CHANGES, CALLING THE BILL A ‘MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY’
pm hails passage of 27th Amend as ‘historic milestone,’ vows unity, stronger federation ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday congratulated the nation and members of the National Assembly on the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority, describing it as a “historic milestone” in strengthening democracy, national unity, and the rule of law. Addressing the National Assembly soon after the bill’s passage, the prime minister thanked all political parties for their unity and maturity, noting that after 19 years of deliberation, the long-cherished dream of establishing constitutional courts had finally been realized. Expressing his gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, MQM Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Abdul Aleem Khan, Khalid Magsi, Aimal Wali Khan, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and all members of the House and its committees, Shehbaz said their cooperation had turned a collective national vision into reality. He said the establishment of the consti-
tutional court represented the pinnacle of democratic evolution, reaffirming civilian and judicial collaboration. The prime minister said the Chief Justice of Pakistan would continue to head the Judicial Commission, the Supreme Judicial Council, and the Law and Justice Commission, adding that the government would always seek the judiciary’s guidance in protecting the Constitution. Paying tribute to late Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the prime minister lauded his lifelong service to the nation, academia, and public discourse. “He was among the most loyal companions of Mian Nawaz Sharif, and his academic insight will remain a beacon for generations,” he said, praying for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for his family. Condemning recent terrorist attacks, PM Shehbaz denounced the assault on Cadet College Wana, comparing it to the tragic APS incident, and praised the armed forces for rescuing all students and eliminating the militants. He also strongly condemned the Islamabad Judicial Complex suicide attack, which claimed 12 lives, including lawyers, and prayed for the martyrs and the injured.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03