Prime Minister Rejects Immunity Proposal, Praises Coalition Unity
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the immediate withdrawal of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have granted immunity to the prime minister, while simultaneously praising coalition partners for their support in passing the historic 27th Constitutional Amendment.
In a strong statement posted on his X account, the Prime Minister emphasized that an elected Prime Minister must remain fully accountable, both before the court of law and the people. Shehbaz clarified that the immunity proposal was not part of the cabinet-approved draft and was submitted by some PML-N senators without his knowledge during his recent visit to Azerbaijan.
Constitutional Amendment Progresses with Changes
The Standing Committees on Law and Justice of both parliamentary houses approved the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill on Sunday after implementing several changes. Senator Farooq H. Naek, who co-chaired the meeting with National Assembly panel chairperson Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, confirmed that the committees had authorized him and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to modify certain clauses of the legislation.
The bill, which was tabled before the Senate just one day after cabinet approval, initially proposed significant changes including:
- Reforms to military leadership structure
- Creation of a Federal Constitutional Court
- Changes to high court judge appointment process
- Higher cap on provincial cabinets
However, the rapid progression of the bill triggered noisy protests from opposition parties, who boycotted the parliamentary committee proceedings.
Coalition Unity Celebrated at Prime Minister House
During a banquet hosted at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on Sunday night, Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to all coalition parties and senators for their unwavering support. The Prime Minister specifically thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and leaders of all coalition parties for their cooperation in achieving this constitutional milestone.
This Constitutional Amendment aims to strengthen the federation, promote inter-provincial harmony, and improve governance, serving the broader interests of Pakistan, the Prime Minister stated. He emphasized that all coalition parties had fully supported this national initiative, attributing the government's achievements throughout its tenure to joint efforts and coalition partner support.
Shehbaz also highlighted Pakistan's improving economic situation, linking it directly to political stability. He stressed the need for continued collective efforts toward the country's development and prosperity, noting that Pakistan's diplomatic achievements and international standing reflect unity across political ranks.
Outstanding Issues and Provincial Concerns
During committee discussions, several key issues remained unresolved, including transfers of cases between high courts, transfer of judges between high courts, and Article 243 concerning command of the armed forces. Senator Naek indicated that discussions on these three points were yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, ANP's Hidayatullah Khan revealed that the committee had sought additional time to consider his party's suggestion for changing the name of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Law Minister Tarar confirmed that provinces would be consulted regarding any potential name change for the province, while MQM-P's suggestions concerning local governments were also discussed during the proceedings.
The parliamentary committees are expected to submit their final report on the proposed amendments to the Senate on Monday, marking another step in the complex constitutional amendment process that has drawn both support and opposition from various political quarters.
