The main points of the planned 27th Constitutional Amendment have surfaced, showing the government’s plan to set up a Constitutional Court to specifically deal with constitutional cases, the private media reported on Saturday.
Creation of Constitutional Court:
According to official sources, the Constitutional Court will initially include seven judges with a service age of 68 years, three years more than that of Supreme Court judges. In seven judges, five will be selected from the sitting judges of the Supreme Court bench. However, a few High Court judges are shortlisted for appointment.
Justice Aminuddin Khan expected to lead:
According to the media report, Justice Aminuddin will perform as the head of the new Constitutional Court. The aim of the formation of the Constitutional Court is to exclusively deal with constitutional matters as well as to reduce the burden on the Supreme Court.
Court location:
According to sources, two locations for the Constitutional Court are under discussion.
- High Court Building (High Court possibly being relocated to its former location in G-9)
- Setting it up in the Federal Shariat Court building
Formation of New Defence Post:
The 27th Constitutional Amendment also suggests the formation of a new post – Commander of Defence Forces – through an amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution. The position would outline the duration and responsibilities for improved coordination between Pakistan’s three armed forces.
Ongoing Talks:
Talks between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are still in progress. The federal minister Ahsan Iqbal said that two third majority is required for constitutional amendment, confirming that talks are going on with the PPP.
