The Constitution Reform Commission, led by Prof Ali Riaz, has recommended expanding fundamental rights, including making the right to education an enforceable constitutional provision.

The state must ensure free and compulsory education for all up to a level determined by law, with opportunities for higher education based on merit and inclusive education for children with disabilities. 

In its full report submitted to the government yesterday, the commission provided an observational analysis and evaluation of the constitution, alongside proposals from political parties and civil society organisations. 

Among its key recommendations, the commission advocates for an enforceable right to health, guaranteeing emergency medical care for all citizens without exception. 

It also recommends including rights to adequate food, clean water, sanitation, and housing within the state's available resources. 

To enhance social security, the commission proposes recognising unemployment, maternity, illness, disability, old age, and orphanhood as grounds for enforceable social protection rights. 

It further calls for ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to cultural identity, including language preservation and participation in cultural life. 

The commission also emphasises the right of ethnic groups to protect and develop their heritage, religion, language, and culture, as well as the right to receive education in one's mother tongue. 

Additionally, it proposes recognising the right to development as a fundamental right, ensuring participation in economic, social, cultural, and political progress. 

Regarding governance reforms, the commission recommends explicitly including the right to criticise judicial rulings under freedom of expression. 

It proposes establishing a permanent parliamentary committee on human rights to review draft legislation. 

Moreover, individuals and institutions violating fundamental rights should be held accountable in court, with appropriate remedies and penalties imposed by law. 

The commission recommends a bicameral legislature with a 400-seat lower house, or National Assembly, and a 105-seat upper house, or Senate. The tenure of both houses would be set at four years. Of the 400 assembly members elected directly, 100 seats would be reserved for women. 

On legislative procedures, the commission suggests that the upper house should not have the power to propose legislation but must review all non-monetary bills passed by the lower house. 

It may approve, reject, or return bills with suggested amendments. If a bill is passed twice by the lower house but rejected by the upper house, it may be sent to the president for assent without further approval. 

Additionally, the upper house cannot indefinitely block legislation; any bill delayed for more than two months will be considered approved. 

The commission's proposals aim to strengthen constitutional protections, ensure inclusive governance, and expand fundamental rights to create a more equitable society. 

Among other proposals, the commission suggests replacing nationalism, socialism, and secularism with equality, human dignity, social justice, and pluralism as fundamental principles of state policy. 

The only core principle retained from the 1972 constitution is democracy. 

The commission also recommends an interim government to conduct elections, a two-term limits for the president and prime minister, lowering the age limit of MPs to 21 from 25, and a national constitutional council to oversee appointments of constitutional bodies like the Election Commission as well as the chief adviser of the interim government. 

Earlier on 15 January, the commission published its primary report, briefly outlining its proposals.