After two consecutive days of extensive deliberations, the joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and National Assembly on Law and Justice approved the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment on Sunday.

A report on the proposed amendment has also been finalised and will be presented in the Senate tomorrow (Monday), with its presentation in the National Assembly also likely the same day.

The joint session of the committee, chaired by Senators Farooq H. Naek and Mehmood Bashir Virk, was held to review and finalise the proposed draft.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister of State for Railways and Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, PPP leader Naveed Qamar, and other members attended the meeting.

Although Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) had boycotted the previous day’s meeting, one of its members attended today’s session.

However, representatives of the PTI, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and Sunni Ittehad Council did not attend and continued their boycott of the parliamentary proceedings.

The meeting was held in two sessions. In the first session, members approved amendments to Article 243, along with provisions for the establishment of the constitutional court and other key clauses, paving the way for judicial reforms.

The committee also approved an amendment extending the period for pending case decisions from six months to one year.

If a case remains inactive for a year, it will be considered disposed of. Additionally, a clause granting lifelong immunity to the President of Pakistan was also approved.

Following a short break, the meeting resumed and continued for over two hours, during which members gave final approval to the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

The committee will now submit its report to the upper house.

Government coalition partners presented three additional amendments, while the Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also submitted their proposals.

Some of these were deferred for further consideration, while others were rejected.

Confirming the development, Senator Farooq H. Naek said the draft of the 27th Amendment had been approved, with some changes incorporated during the meeting.

“I and the Law Minister have been authorised to make minor modifications where necessary,” he added.

When asked by a journalist about the immunity for President Asif Ali Zardari, Naek replied, “The amendment hasn’t even been passed yet — why are you getting upset already?”

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said it was encouraging that all members expressed consensus on the proposed amendments.

“Everything, including Article 243, has been agreed upon. The report will be presented in the Senate tomorrow,” he said, terming it “a positive step for the country.”

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar hinted at a breakthrough regarding MQM’s proposals, saying the report would be presented in the Senate on Monday.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment will be tabled for approval in the Senate at 11.30am on Monday, and it is expected to pass with a majority vote.

The amendment may also be introduced in the National Assembly later the same day.

Speaking to reporters, Law Minister Tarar said that work on most clauses of the amendment bill had been completed, while discussions continued on a few proposals received later.

He added that discussions had been held regarding a possible change to the name of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while suggestions from the MQM and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) were under consideration.

“The ANP and BAP will consult their respective leaderships before a final decision,” he noted.

It is worth noting that a constitutional amendment requires two-thirds majority approval in both houses of parliament — 64 votes in the Senate and 224 in the National Assembly.

The opposition currently holds 30 seats in the upper house and is expected to oppose the amendment.