The Senate on Monday approved the highly contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill after weeks of national debate and fierce political criticism, clearing 59 clauses of the legislation with a two-thirds majority during a charged session marked by protests, sloganeering, and a walkout by most opposition members.
The bill, presented by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and presided over by Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, introduces sweeping changes to Pakistan’s constitutional, judicial, and military structures.
The voting process involved both clause-by-clause consideration and voting by division, during which the gates of the Senate were sealed in accordance with parliamentary protocol.
The government secured 64 votes in favour during several critical rounds of voting, with only two votes cast against key amendments.
Despite intense protest by PTI lawmakers, who tore copies of the bill and gathered before the chairman’s dais, the treasury benches succeeded in passing each clause of the amendment.
Notably, PTI Senator Saifullah Abro broke ranks with his party and voted in favour of the amendment. Senators Ahmed Khan of JUI also supported the government, further solidifying the majority.
The Senate approved 59 clauses of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, each carrying significant changes to Pakistan’s constitutional and institutional framework.
With most opposition lawmakers absent due to their walkout, the government easily secured the required two-thirds majority during the final vote. The Senate approved all 59 clauses, paving the way for one of the most extensive constitutional overhauls in Pakistan’s history.
The session remained tense throughout. PTI lawmakers protested vigorously, tearing up copies of the bill and chanting slogans. The walkout, except for Senator Saifullah Abro, was the opposition’s final expression of dissent before the bill’s passage.
Despite the uproar, the treasury benches maintained their numbers, ensuring the amendment's approval.
One of the central provisions includes amendments to Article 42, paving the way for the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court. A recount requested by the opposition confirmed the approval of the clause by majority vote.
Amendments to Articles 59, 63A, 68, 78, and 81 were also passed, formally replacing references to the Supreme Court with the Federal Constitutional Court wherever specified. During this phase of the proceedings, PTI senators Falak Naz Chitrali and Fauzia Arshad repeatedly raised slogans of “thief, thief”, while the rest of the PTI lawmakers walked out of the House.
Senator Saifullah Abro remained the only PTI member in the chamber and continued voting in favour of each clause.
Expanding executive powers
The Senate approved an amendment to Article 93, granting the Prime Minister the authority to appoint up to seven advisors.
An amendment to Article 100 replaced references to the Supreme Court with the Federal Constitutional Court, a theme echoed in multiple subsequent clauses.
Changes to Articles 114, 130, 165A, 175, and 175A were also approved, many of which embed the Federal Constitutional Court into the judicial and constitutional framework and alter the composition and functions of the Judicial Commission responsible for appointing judges.
Restructuring the judicial system
Several of the most significant amendments relate directly to the restructuring of Pakistan’s judicial hierarchy:
Under the revised Article 175A, the Judicial Commission will now include the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and one senior judge each from both courts.
The amendment also adds one senior judge from the Supreme Court and one from the Federal Constitutional Court to the Judicial Commission.
Amendments to Article 175D require judges of the new Constitutional Court to retake their oaths under the Third Schedule of the Constitution.
The new structure places the Federal Constitutional Court above the Supreme Court for constitutional matters. According to the approved clause:
Decisions of the Federal Constitutional Court will be binding on all courts, including the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court decisions will not apply to the Constitutional Court.
All constitutional public-interest cases currently in the Supreme Court will be transferred to the Constitutional Court.
An amendment was also approved enabling judges with at least five years of High Court service to become judges of the Federal Constitutional Court.
Abolition of suo motu powers and key Supreme Court articles
One of the most consequential amendments is the abolition of the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers. The Senate approved:
The transfer of suo motu authority to the Federal Constitutional Court.
The deletion of Article 184 from the Constitution.
The deletion of Articles 186 and 191A.
Amendments to Article 200 were also passed to limit the President’s authority in transferring judges.
The President may now transfer any High Court judge only on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission.
A clause further restricts judicial transfers by ensuring:
No High Court Chief Justice may be transferred.
No judge senior to a Chief Justice will be transferred in a way that disrupts seniority.
A transferred judge will not outrank the Chief Justice of another court.
Refusal to accept a transfer will result in a reference being filed before the Supreme Judicial Council. Judges who refuse appointment to the new Federal Constitutional Court will also face a reference.
Amendments also grant pensions and benefits to judges for a fixed period upon retirement.
Reforming the Supreme Judicial Council
Changes to Article 209 require the formulation of new rules for the Supreme Judicial Council within 60 days. The Council will now include:
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
The Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court
Two senior judges each from both courts
Two senior High Court judges
Additional provisions allow joint nominations for judges serving two-year terms on the Council.
Radical revisions to military leadership structure
One of the most debated changes came through amendments to Article 243. Seven new clauses were added, including provisions to:
Change the title of the Chief of Army Staff to Commander of Defence Forces.
Abolish the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee effective November 27, 2025.
Empower the Prime Minister, on the President’s advice, to appoint the Commander of Defence Forces.
Establish the position of Commander of National Strategic Command, to be appointed on the recommendation of the Army Chief.
Another clause grants the federal government authority to promote military officers to the rank of Field Marshal, Air Marshal, or Admiral Chief, with lifetime uniforms and privileges. These positions will be considered “heroes” and may not be removed except under Article 47.
The federal government will define the responsibilities of these top-ranking officers, while the Field Marshal will receive legal immunity under Article 248.
Lifetime immunity for President
The Senate also approved an amendment to Article 248, granting the President lifetime immunity from legal action after leaving office — unless he or she accepts another public office, upon which the immunity will lapse.
Oath revisions and constitutional court recognition
Amendments to the Third Schedule were approved to incorporate the title “Chief Justice, Federal Constitutional Court” into the oath prescribed for judicial officeholders.
Before the final stage of voting, bells were rung for two minutes to alert members to return to the chamber. The doors were then sealed, and the Senate proceeded to vote on the complete 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Govt presents 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill
Earlier, the government tabled the eagerly-awaited report on the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill prepared by the law and justice standing committees of both houses of Parliament.
As the Senate session resumed with Chairman Yousaf Raza Giani in the chair, senior PPP leader Farooq H Naek tabled the standing committees' report in the Upper House, saying several changes have been made to the Bill.
PPP Senator and Senate Standing Committee of Law and Justice Chairman Farooq H. Naek laid before the Senate the report on the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill, saying changes had been made to the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking in the Senate, Naek said that the committee had unanimously approved the establishment of a constitutional court, which would have an equal representation of four provinces.
Talking about the changes introduced in the amendment, he said that the committee had suggested that a high court judge, having five to seven-year experience, be appointed as a constitutional court judge. “The committee has also included a technocrat,” the PPP senator said, adding that the power to take suo moto notice had been retained, but it would only be exercised when somebody would ask for it.
He informed that the committee had also discussed the issue of transfer of judges. “The committee has changed the procedure for their transfer,” he said, and added that now a judge would be transferred through the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP).
A judge, Naek went on to say, would not retire automatically. “In fact, a reference will be filed for the purpose.”
He informed that there was a proposal in the bill to grant immunity to the president. “The committee has made a change. According to that, the president will no longer enjoy immunity if he holds a public office after leaving presidency.”
Naek told the house that the joint committee deliberated on the bill for two days and made “many changes”.
Outlining those changes, he said there would be equal representation of all provinces in the FCC, and it would also include a representative from the Islamabad High Court.
Naek further said that the committee also agreed if an appointment was made to the FCC from among sitting Supreme Court judges, the inter-se seniority of the appointee would remain the same as at the time of the appointment. However, in case of a fresh appointment of a lawyer or a high court judge, the seniority would be reckoned from the date on which they would assume office.
Moreover, he continued, if multiple judges would take oath the same day, their seniority would be determined on the basis of their age.
He added that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan was reconstituted under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, with the speaker being authorised to nominate a woman or a non-Muslim candidate to become a member.
The committee changed this to include a technocrat, Naek said. “So now, the speaker can nominate a woman, non-Muslim or technocrat who qualify to be a member of Parliament for the JCP.”
Earlier, the Senate session presided by Manzoor Kakar was adjourned to meet against at 3:30 pm as there were no clear signs from the government side that when the report will land in the upper house, though the session started over half an hour late.
On the other hand, speaking to reporters, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that there was no deadlock in completing the numbers. “The report on 27th Amendment will be introduced when we have the required strength,” he added.
He confirmed that the proposal to grant immunity to the prime minister has been dropped.
He argued that the concept of constitutional courts exists throughout the world. “We had agreed on setting up these courts under the Charter of Democracy,” the minister recalled.
“The amendments are being made to strengthen the Federation, improve governance and make Pakistan’s defence impregnable,” he said and added that throughout the world, heads of states are granted immunity.
At the outset of the session on Monday, the chair said that some speeches regarding the constitutional amendment could not be delivered yesterday, and the proceedings today would begin with those addresses.
He then gave the floor to PML-N’s Agha Shahzaib Durrani to open the debate today on the matter. However, he was constantly interrupted by members from the opposition benches, who responded to his criticism.
PPP Senator Farooq H Naek will present the standing committee’s report on the amendment in the House.
The National Assembly will also meet at 4:30 PM today.
The numbers game
A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament. So when the bill is put to the vote in the Senate, which comprises 96 members, it will require the backing of at least 64 senators.
The Nawaz League-led ruling coalition, however, does not enjoy a two-thirds majority in the upper house of the Parliament. With 61 senators, the coalition will need at least three votes from the opposition to ensure its passage.
Ishaq Dar on numbers
Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has expressed the optimism that the government will get 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill easily passed from the Senate.
Talking to the media men in the Parliament House before the start of the Senate session, Dar said “Insha’Allah, we will have the numbers.”
When asked as to whether National Party will back the government, Dar said “Your will see when the voting will take place.”
Opposition parties mull strategy
As the government is set to present the 27th Amendment Bill in Senate today, the opposition parties have gone into a huddle to discuss their strategy for the session.
Parliamentary leader Syed Ali Zafar is presiding over the meeting of the opposition parties.
Senators belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) are attending the session.
The joint parliamentary party meeting of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate is also scheduled to take place at 3:00 PM today.
Govt delegation meets National Party chief
As the government is making efforts to complete its numbers in order to ensure the passage of the 27th Amendment from the parliament, its delegation met with National Party (NP) chief Dr Abdul Malik Baloch at Turbat late Sunday night.
The delegation, comprising Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Adviser to PM Rana Sanaullah beside others, dashed to Turbat from Quetta on a special plane and requested Malik to vote in favour of the amendment.
The delegation conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s message to the NP chief.
The party has one senator and one member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the parliament.
JUI-F says will not vote for 27th Amendment
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has decided not to vote for the 27 constitutional amendment.
The party’s Senator Kamran Murtaza said that the JUI-F had objections to the amendment. “We simply don’t trust the government,” he said categorically.
He said that after the passage of the 27th Amendment, the 26th amendment would be rolled back.
Murtaza complained that the government did not allow the party senators to read contents of the amendment. “We wanted to attend the joint committee meeting despite reservations so that we could put forward our suggestions,” he informed.
Balochistan CM meets PM
Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Sarfaraz Bugti met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday and discussed with him issues pertaining to the province.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Advisor to PM Rana Sanaullah were also present at the meeting.
According to a statement released by the PM House, during the meeting, they discussed matters related to Balochistan province.
Govt numbers are complete, says Rana Sana
Adviser to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah said that by granting immunity to the field marshal, article 6 was not revoked.
He claimed that the government enjoyed the support of 65 senators for the passage of the amendment.
He said that most of ambiguous points related to the amendment would become clear today.
27th Amend to strengthen democracy, claims Vawda
Meanwhile, Senator Faisal Vawda has claimed that the passage of the amendment will strengthen democracy in the country.
He has praised the prime minister for performing well during the last three years.
Responding to a question about changing the name of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the senator said that Aimal Wali was his friend, and that he would support whatever decision he would take, while JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is his elder and he had learnt the art of politics from him.
Vawda was of the view that now it was the time to get ready for the 28th Amendment as the legislation was also important for the country’s defence.
Reporters: Usman Khan, Tayyab Saif and Hashir Warraich