Senate passes controversial 27th constitutional amendment

Pakistan's powerful army chief will be given an expanded role and the remit of its Supreme Court curbed after Senate, the upper house of parliament, on Monday gave a nod to the controversial 27th constitutional amendment.

- Agencies

Under the amendment bill, the President will appoint the Army Chief and the Chief of Defence Force on the advice of the Prime Minister. It also proposes that the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will expire on November 27, 2025.

The bill, passed on Monday by the Senate in about three hours, unusually quickly for a constitutional change, after the opposition boycotted the debate, will now go before the lower house before it can become law.