ISLAMABAD — Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, announced that the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment includes a provision to bestow the title of Field Marshal as a lifetime honorary rank.
Speaking to the media after the federal cabinet’s approval of the amendment on Saturday, Tarar explained that the proposal aims to bring several major constitutional reforms addressing judicial transparency, local governance, and provincial representation.
Formation of Federal Constitutional Court
The law minister said the amendment envisions the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court dedicated to handling constitutional matters more efficiently. This specialized body, he noted, would help reduce the workload on the Supreme Court and ensure quicker resolutions of constitutional disputes.
Judges’ Transfer Process
To ensure greater transparency in the judiciary, Tarar stated that the power to transfer judges would be shifted to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). Under this proposal, the chief justices of the respective high courts would be consulted in the decision-making process, strengthening judicial independence.
Senate Elections
Addressing the issue of staggered Senate elections, the minister said the amendment proposes holding Senate polls across the country simultaneously, replacing the current system where half the seats are contested every three years. This change, he said, would make the process more streamlined and nationally consistent.
Expansion of Provincial Cabinets
Responding to demands from smaller provinces, particularly Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the amendment recommends increasing the size of provincial cabinets from 11% to 13% of the total assembly strength. The number of advisers permitted for chief ministers would also rise from five to seven.
Field Marshal and Military Ranks
One of the most notable provisions is the inclusion of the Field Marshal title in the Constitution a rank mentioned in the Army Act but not explicitly recognized in the 1973 Constitution. Similar honorary ranks are proposed for the Air Chief and Naval Chief as well.
“These distinctions would be purely ceremonial,” Tarar clarified, “and are meant to honor national heroes for their lifetime contributions. Command authority will continue to be governed under existing military laws.”
He further explained that these honorary titles could serve as a way to formally recognize outstanding service and dedication to the nation.
Local Government and Political Consensus
The minister also shared that the MQM-P has proposed amendments to Article 140A concerning the local government system, emphasizing greater autonomy for local bodies. Meanwhile, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has demanded an increase in the number of provincial assembly seats to ensure fairer representation.
Azam Nazeer Tarar added that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has agreed to back the provisions approved by the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) so the amendment can be passed unanimously, while unresolved points would be discussed later.
He concluded by saying that the government aims to build broad political consensus around the proposed reforms to ensure smooth implementation once the amendment is formally introduced in Parliament.
