Oppn vows nationwide protests as Pakistan  moves to pass 27th Constitutional Amendment

ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: As Pakistan’s parliament prepares to pass the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, the Opposition has slammed the move as one that will shake “the foundations of the Constitution” and announced nationwide protests from Sunday. The amendment proposes a change in Article 243, seeking to abolish the “Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee” (CJCSC) position and introduce a new title, “Chief of Defence Forces”. Other proposals include the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court and revisions to the process of appointing high court judges. It also aims to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court, with some authorities shifted to the proposed Constitutional Court, and immunity to the president from criminal proceedings for life. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar