Pakistan 27th Constitutional Amendment Signed Into Law by President Zardari

Islamabad, Pakistan – President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday formally signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment, officially enacting the legislation into Pakistan’s Constitution following approval from Parliament. The move finalizes sweeping changes affecting the country’s judicial structure and military command.

The Constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2025, assented to on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had earlier passed both the National Assembly and the Senate amid heated debate and opposition protests.

In the Senate, the amendment received 64 votes in favor, surpassing the required two-thirds majority in the 96-member house. Four senators voted against the bill. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani confirmed the passage, stating that the motion was carried with the constitutionally mandated majority.

The National Assembly approved the amendment a day earlier with 234 votes in favor and four against, following an opposition walkout. The assembly introduced several key modifications to the Senate’s original draft, including clarifications regarding the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), the hierarchy of the nation’s top judges, and the removal of certain oath-related provisions.

Key Amendments and Changes:

• Article 6(2A): The FCC is explicitly included within the ambit of high treason provisions.

• Article 10(4): Revised to include the Supreme Court in preventive detention oversight.

• Oath-Related Clauses: Proposals to transfer oath-administering authority from the Chief Justice of Pakistan to the Chief Justice of the FCC were removed.

• Judicial Hierarchy: Clause 56 now defines the Chief Justice of Pakistan as “the senior among the Chief Justice of the FCC and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” establishing a formal ranking between the two top judicial offices.

• Incumbent Chief Justice Status: Clause 23 ensures that the sitting Chief Justice retains the title of Chief Justice of Pakistan during their term.

The amendment required a two-thirds majority in the 336-member National Assembly. The ruling coalition, led by PML-N, easily secured the votes with support from allied parties including PPP, MQM-P, PML-Q, and others, while only four JUI-F lawmakers opposed the amendment.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment marks a significant step in Pakistan’s legal and military reforms, redefining the judicial landscape and clarifying command structures in the armed forces. Analysts note that the changes could have long-term implications for constitutional governance and judicial independence in the country.