Parliament Passes NCHR Amendment Bill Amid Opposition Concerns Over Legal Changes
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s Parliament on Friday approved the National Commission for Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 by majority vote in a joint sitting, pushing through a set of changes that drew objections from opposition lawmakers who warned the revisions required deeper scrutiny.
The bill was tabled by Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, who told the House the amendments were designed to streamline the legal framework governing the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and to more precisely define the scope of federal authority over the body.
Official documents accompanying the legislation state that the changes aim to eliminate long-standing ambiguities in the law. The move follows cabinet directives issued in light of a Supreme Court ruling — PLD 2016 SC 808 — which called for greater legal clarity in the functioning and jurisdiction of statutory commissions.
During deliberations, the joint sitting rejected amendments proposed by Senator Kamran Murtaza and MNA Aliya Kamran. However, lawmakers approved a separate set of changes moved by MNA Shazia Marri, incorporating them into the final version of the bill before its passage.
Opposition members voiced concerns over specific provisions, arguing that the proposed law could reshape the commission’s independence and mandate without sufficient parliamentary debate. They urged the government to allow more time for discussion and broader consultation.
The government, however, defended the legislation, saying the amendments were essential to ensure legal certainty, improve institutional effectiveness, and strengthen the operational clarity of the NCHR.
Following the bill’s approval, the joint sitting of Parliament was adjourned sine die, bringing the session to a close.
