President Zardari signs ‘contentious’ 27th Amendment into law amid widespread debate

• 27th Amendment becomes law after Presidential assent following Cabinet’s approval and parliamentary passage
• Changes to Article 243 reshape military command and introduce new honorary ranks
• Senate re-approves amendment amid opposition protests after NA passes revised draft with 234 in favour, four against
• Opposition alleges ‘haste, deceit and fraud’ in pushing amendment with PTI, JUI-F defecting members spark defection row under Article 63-A
• Law minister, deputy PM stress legal process for disqualification and voting rights of defectors

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday gave his formal assent to the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, signing it into law shortly after the federal cabinet approved it following passage by both houses of Parliament.

The President’s Office, confirming the development, said in a statement that the summary signed by President Zardari read, “The Constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2025, is assented to, as advised by the Prime Minister at para 5 of the summary.”

With the presidential assent, the amendment has now become part of the Constitution, paving the way for the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC)—a long-envisioned institution under the Charter of Democracy—and introducing changes to the command and structure of the armed forces under Article 243.

Officials said the President is expected to administer the oath to the Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court at a ceremony to be held at the Presidency on Friday, formally bringing the new judicial body into existence.

President has given assent to constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2025 enacting it into law@PresOfPakistan @AAliZardari #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/XBUXB4j20R pic.twitter.com/Ks01NznDK1

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) November 13, 2025

Senate gives final nod amid opposition uproar

The president’s assent came only hours after the Senate approved the amendment for the second time amid raucous scenes and strong opposition protests. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, announcing the result, declared that 64 votes were cast in favour of the bill and four against it, meeting the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority.

“The motion is carried by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate, and consequently, the bill stands passed,” Gilani ruled after both clause-by-clause and division voting were completed.

During the session, opposition members shouted slogans of “Aain ki tabahi, na manzoor” (“Destruction of the Constitution, unacceptable”), forcing the chair to repeatedly call for order.

The bill was initially passed by the Senate earlier in the week and sent to the National Assembly, which endorsed it with eight amendments before returning it to the upper house for ratification of the changes.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while tabling the bill again, explained that the amendments were designed to harmonize the constitutional and defence framework with the newly approved 27th Amendment.

He clarified that the incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) would continue to hold his current position, but after his retirement, the senior-most among the top judges of the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court would assume the title of CJP.

Under the revised Article 6, dealing with high treason, the law minister stated, “Any court in Pakistan—be it the Federal Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, or a High Court—cannot validate the abrogation of the Constitution.” He stressed that the amendment was designed to “forever block the path to martial law and strengthen democracy.”

Opposition objections and defection row

However, the debate quickly turned acrimonious. PTI Senator Ali Zafar accused the government of pushing the bill in “undue haste,” alleging that it was motivated by political fears. “They want to establish their constitutional court at the earliest so that they can control it. The haste is driven by the fear of one man who is in jail just a few miles away,” he said, referring to PTI founder Imran Khan.

Zafar went on to describe the amendment as being “based on deceit and fraud,” claiming that it lacked public legitimacy and “would not stand the test of time.”

The Senate sitting also witnessed heated exchanges over defection and voting discipline after two opposition senators—PTI’s Saifullah Abro and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan — had earlier defied party lines to support the bill.

Senator Zafar demanded that the votes of the “defectors” be excluded, invoking Article 63-A of the Constitution, which deals with disqualification on grounds of defection. “Otherwise, we will have to challenge this entire process,” he warned.

JUI-F’s Senator Kamran Murtaza echoed similar concerns, accusing the government of “winning over” a member of his party. “It was unfair, and we want the PML-N leadership to know that we did not like what happened,” he said, adding that his party had already sought disqualification of the defecting senator.

In response, Law Minister Tarar said that under the law, a reference on defection had to follow due process—from the party head to the presiding officer and then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)—before any member could be disqualified. “Until that process is completed, no seat stands vacant,” he clarified.

Senate Chairman Gilani confirmed that he had received no written resignation from any member, saying, “Their resignation has not yet been accepted or received.”

Amid opposition criticism, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar defended the defectors, calling their action a matter of conscience. “Voting against the party line can be a matter of principle. This is what democracy requires,” he remarked, drawing loud desk-thumping from treasury benches.

Ruckus in National Assembly session

A day earlier, the National Assembly had passed the 27th Amendment bill during a charged session attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former premier Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The session, marred by slogans and a walkout by opposition lawmakers, saw 59 clauses of the bill debated, with eight revised in the final version tabled before the house. PTI members tore copies of the bill and hurled them toward the treasury benches as security officials surrounded the prime minister and senior PML-N leaders to maintain order.

In a surprising moment of civility, PTI’s Sher Afzal Marwat abstained from joining the protest, remaining seated before later walking up to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to exchange brief words — even as his party colleagues continued chanting slogans.

Law Minister Tarar and Bilawal both faced interruptions during their speeches, but the bill was ultimately passed by 234 votes in favour and four against, comfortably crossing the required two-thirds threshold of 224 votes in the 336-member house.

Bilawal, addressing the assembly, reiterated that the PPP would “never support” any attempt to roll back the 18th Amendment and underscored that the changes were limited to Article 243 to “modernise command structures” during a time of heightened regional tensions.

He said the amendment fulfilled a long-delayed commitment under the Charter of Democracy, including the creation of constitutional courts. “After defeating India and amid regional challenges, Pakistan must adapt its defence and judicial structures to new realities,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his speech, called the passage of the amendment a “historic moment of consensus,” thanking President Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and allied parties for their support. He said the 27th Amendment had “realized the vision of institutional equilibrium” first conceived in the Charter of Democracy.

“I also thank Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi for supporting us within the ambit of the Constitution,” the premier said.

Opposition and legal fraternity pushback

Outside Parliament, the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan announced plans for a nationwide protest movement, calling the amendment “a dark and dangerous precedent” that undermines judicial independence.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the government had “sunk the ship of democracy and judicial independence” by rushing the legislation without wider consultation.

Several former judges and senior lawyers also expressed reservations over the creation of the Federal Constitutional Court, arguing that it could dilute the powers of the Supreme Court and create institutional overlap.

A year in the making

The 27th Amendment follows roughly a year after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, passed in October 2024 during a controversial overnight session marked by opposition protests and allegations of coercion.

Speculation over a new constitutional package persisted throughout 2025 until PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari disclosed on November 3 that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had sought his party’s support for the upcoming amendment.

The bill was subsequently approved by the federal cabinet via a video-linked meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz from Baku on November 8 and tabled in the Senate later the same day. After a quick review by the standing committees on law and justice, it was passed with minor changes on November 10.

Following its passage by the National Assembly on November 12, the revised bill returned to the Senate for final approval, where it passed on November 13—paving the way for President Zardari’s signature later the same day.

A milestone moment

With the 27th Amendment now enacted, the government says Pakistan has entered a “new constitutional phase” marked by enhanced separation of powers, institutional reform, and alignment of defense laws with democratic oversight.

For supporters, it represents the completion of the Charter of Democracy’s promises—introducing the Federal Constitutional Court, constitutionalizing new military ranks, and formalizing command structures. For opponents, it signifies a “rushed and dangerous overreach.”

Either way, the passage of the amendment and the president’s swift assent mark one of the most consequential political moments of 2025—a development that is certain to shape Pakistan’s judicial, political, and military balance in the years ahead.