The Senate on Thursday approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment with a two-thirds majority after a heated and chaotic session marked by loud protests, walkouts, and sharp exchanges between government and opposition benches.
The bill, sent back from the National Assembly with fresh amendments, sparked intense debate over disqualification rules, constitutional procedure, and alleged political manoeuvring.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar presented the amendments introduced by the National Assembly to the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill for Senate approval. Chairman Senate noted that the lower house had made “some amendments” to the version earlier passed by the upper house and had returned the bill for reconsideration.
The Senate approved the motion regarding the amendment under Article 239. Clause-by-clause approval of the revised bill then began. Saifullah Abro and Ahmed Khan voted in favour of the amendment.
Opp protests intensify inside House
Opposition parties strongly protested throughout the proceedings. Members banged desks, shouted slogans, and tore copies of the bill in anger.
The Senate chairman repeatedly instructed the opposition to refrain from shouting slogans. Despite the warnings, protests escalated. PTI members eventually walked out of the House. The amendment was ultimately approved by a two-thirds majority, with 64 votes in favour and four against.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar argued that a two-thirds vote would again be required for re-approval of the bill returning from the National Assembly. He claimed that one member each from PTI and JUI had voted against the instructions of their parliamentary leaders and were therefore “automatically disqualified.”
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“If this is done, we will challenge the entire process,” Zafar warned.
JUI’s Senator Kamran Murtaza also criticised the process, saying, “We were also attacked and humiliated. We did not like what the PML-N did.” He added that his party had expelled one member and asked for his resignation. “We have to oppose the next amendment,” he said.
Govt rejects automatic disqualification claims
Law Minister Tarar rejected the opposition’s interpretation, clarifying that voting against party policy under Article 63A does not cause automatic disqualification.
He explained that a parliamentary leader may only send a reference in cases related to the election of a prime minister, a no-confidence motion, a money bill, or a constitutional amendment. Once submitted, the chairman reviews it, after which it proceeds to the Election Commission of Pakistan for hearings. Members also have a right to appeal.
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Tarar said that emotional announcements of resignation inside the House do not count unless written resignations are submitted. “Sometimes resignation is announced in the bitterness of emotions,” he remarked.
Senate chairman addresses resignation confusion
At one point, the Senate chairman asked the law minister to recall the third part of Article 63A. The minister responded that it related to automatic disqualification.
The chairman noted that PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi had once stood to announce his resignation, “but no one confirmed it.”
“I have not received any written resignation,” he said. “If a member resigns, he would come to me. Neither the resignation of a PTI member has been received nor accepted.”
PTI, JUI question defected votes
Before voting began, PTI and JUI questioned the legitimacy of votes cast by defected members. The Senate chairman and the law minister rejected these objections, saying the process would proceed as per law.
PTI Senator Humayun Khan accused the Senate chairman of “promoting horse trading and floor crossing,” prompting fresh protests from PTI lawmakers. The chairman denied the accusation and said Saifullah Abro “is still a respected member of the House.”
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Senator Humayun Mohmand insisted the chairman was encouraging floor crossing and claimed Abro voted “under whatever compulsion.” He added, “You are telling him that we will bring you back.”
Minister clarifies CJP succession, martial law clause
Tarar said concerns regarding the position of the chief justice of Pakistan had been addressed. He said the opposition had also sought clarity, confirming that the current chief justice would remain in office.
Looking ahead, “the one who will be senior to the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court will be the chief justice of Pakistan,” he explained.
The law minister added that Article 6 had been amended to strengthen constitutional protection against martial law. “The Federal Constitutional Court has also been included in this clause. This is to block the path of martial law.”
Opp calls amendment ‘fraud’, politically motivated
Senator Ali Zafar warned that the amendment was passed with “stolen votes,” insisting that the government had returned to the Senate “to correct the mistakes.”
“They want to form a constitutional court as soon as possible so they can control it,” he alleged, adding that the ruling coalition “is afraid of a person sitting in jail.”
He called the amendment “based on deceit and fraud,” warning that “this building is bound to collapse.” Zafar also claimed the government intended to “take those two votes again after the rolling.”
Dar defends amendment, legislative process
Leader of the House Ishaq Dar responded that Senator Ali Zafar was a “highly respected” colleague but rejected his claims. He reminded senators that the National Assembly was dissolved during the no-confidence motion period.
Dar noted that the Senate had already passed the 27th Amendment, and eight changes were made after opposition or NA recommendations. “They are not manoeuvring judges to topple the Punjab government,” he said.
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He added that if the opposition had taken the bill to committee earlier, it could have been corrected there.
Dar reiterated that Article 63A does not operate automatically and said written resignations must be submitted for membership to end. “When someone votes on conscience, it is counted,” he said. Membership only ends through written resignation or party-led disqualification proceedings.
Earlier, members of the treasury benches were instructed to ensure their presence in the session, given that constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in the upper house. A total of 64 votes are needed for the amendment to pass.
Govt secures numbers after new outreach
Government insiders say the “number game is complete,” with assurances received not only from coalition senators but also from those who previously supported the amendment in the first round of voting.
In addition to the two opposition senators who backed the bill earlier -- PTI’s Saifullah Abro and JUI’s Ahmed Khan -- the government has contacted several other opposition lawmakers to shore up support. Sources say these fresh engagements have strengthened confidence that the amendment will comfortably clear the Senate.
During today’s sitting, the law minister is expected to present the amendments approved by the National Assembly a day before for final approval in the upper house.
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On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority, as 234 members voted in its favour after its clause-by-clause approval. Four members voted against the bill.
According to the details, four clauses from the version of the bill earlier approved by the Senate have been deleted, three clauses have been amended, and one new clause has been added.
Under the approved changes, the current chief justice will continue to be known as the chief justice of Pakistan. Furthermore, the president, auditor general, and chief election commissioner will now take their oaths before the chief justice of Pakistan.
