The Senate on Thursday approved the new draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, marking a significant changes in key constitutional and judicial provisions.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the revised draft of the amendment in the Upper House, after which voting was held on several clauses.
A majority voted in favour, with 64 votes supporting clauses 2, 3, 4, 19, 22 and 51 of the new draft, while four members opposed the amendment.
Opposition senators Saifullah Abro and Ahmed Khan voted in favour of the bill, while four JUI-F senators opposed it.
According to sources, the two dissident senators from PTI and JUI-F could cast the vote as their resignations had not yet been accepted, nor had any reference been filed against them under Article 63.
The Senate chairman also clarified that verbal resignations have no legal standing and that no formal resignations had been received from any members.
He said there is a clear legal procedure for resignation, and even after submitting it formally, a member retains the right to appeal.
Citing an example, he said former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had once verbally announced his resignation, but he never actually tendered his resignation.
“People often make emotional statements, but under the Constitution and law, only a written and properly submitted resignation is valid,” he stated.
The Senate chairman further said that references related to party floor-crossing could be forwarded to the Election Commission for action under the law.
The session turned heated during voting, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators staging a sit-in in front of the chairman’s seat and raising slogans against the constitutional amendment.
They also tore copies of the bill while shouting “No to amendment.” Despite the uproar, the amendment was adopted, and the chairman adjourned the session until the next sitting.
Addressing the House, Law Minister Tarar explained that additional amendments were introduced to clarify certain provisions.
He said Article 6 pertains directly to high treason, and that anyone who abrogates or subverts the Constitution through the use of force cannot seek validation from any court.
The amendment bill had been passed by the National Assembly a day earlier with a two-thirds majority.
During that session, opposition members had torn copies of the bill and boycotted proceedings after staging a protest in front of the Speaker’s dais.
The government benches recorded 234 votes in favour — well above the 224 required.
The bill adopted by the National Assembly contained eight new clauses.
The most notable change lies in clause 2 of Article 6, which now explicitly states that no court can validate any act of “high treason”.
The clause also introduces the term “Constitutional Court” alongside the High Court and Supreme Court.
The amendment further clarifies that the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Yahya Afridi, will continue to serve as Chief Justice of Pakistan until the completion of his tenure.
Upon his retirement, the senior-most among the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court will hold the title of Chief Justice of Pakistan.
This clarification ends speculations that the post of the Chief Justice of Pakistan was being abolished or transferred to the head of the Constitutional Court.
Thursday’s Senate agenda also included discussions on the possible closure of the Utility Stores Corporation, the Agricultural and Food Security Authority Bill 2025, and the presentation of the State Bank’s annual report.
