Senate takes up 27th Amendment after joint parliamentary committee finalises draft

Federal law minister optimistic, says will table bill once government has enough votes

A debate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment is currently underway in the Senate today in the absence of house chairperson Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani. However, sources within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the largest government ally, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), say that the final draft is not yet ready. 

Despite an apparent deadlock between the two major political parties and criticism from the opposition, the government is optimistic that the Amendment will pass. “The situation is tight, but we will manage to secure the required numbers. Voting will begin as soon as all members are present,” said Federal Law Minister Azam Tarar. 

The ruling alliance currently holds 63 of the 96 Senate seats. Senator Irfan Siddiqui is undergoing treatment in the hospital, and Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani is also unable to cast his vote, complicating the government’s efforts. To secure approval, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are coordinating efforts to win support from National Party senators.

Within the coalition, the PML-N holds 20 seats, the PPP 26, while the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has four, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) three, and one each from the National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

Independent senators aligned with the government—Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, Mohsin Naqvi, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim, and Faisal Vawda—are also expected to support the amendment. On the opposition side, independent Senator Naseema Ehsan and three Awami National Party (ANP) senators have pledged their votes.

Read: PM, senators feast on halwa after finalizing 27th Amendment

Once passed in the Senate, the amendment will move to the National Assembly, scheduled to meet at 4:30 pm. With 326 sitting members out of 336, the ruling coalition already commands 237 votes, surpassing the 224 needed for constitutional amendments. The PML-N leads with 125 members, followed by the PPP with 74, MQM-P 22, PML-Q five, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party four, and one each from PML-Z, BAP, and the National Party, along with four independents.

The opposition has criticised the amendment. On Sunday, the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) denounced it as an “assault on the Constitution” and “Pakistan’s 9/11,” announcing a nationwide protest campaign. The alliance plans to mobilise public opinion, engage trade organisations, and consult legal professionals, warning, “The judicial system is being dismantled. Lawyers will play a key role in this movement”.

Senate live session:

Senate session 

Deliberations in the Senate centered on three core issues of the 27th Constitutional Amendment: the Federal Courts Commission (FFC), transfer of judges, and Article 243. The session was marked by heated exchanges, with discussions often overshadowed by political rhetoric and inter-party disputes.

Senator Shahzaib Durrani of the ruling coalition emphasized listening to all sides but criticized PTI senators: “Compared to 9/11, did you even read the amendments? The opposition just rejects everything without discussion.” PTI senators vocally defended their party, frequently interrupting proceedings.

Senator Fauzia Arshad criticized the exclusion of opposition voices: “We were not consulted. Not being given our right to openly debate and present suggestions undermines the legitimacy of this process”.

Senator Zameer Hussain Ghumro raised concerns about judicial independence, stating: “Changes to the FFC and judicial transfers could harm the autonomy of the judiciary. Executive control could lead to politically biased appointments".

Approval threshold in Senate

To pass a constitutional amendment in the Senate, a two-thirds majority is required, meaning 64 out of 96 senators must vote in favour. With 63 coalition senators currently available, the government needs support from at least one additional member to reach the threshold.

Joint Committee passes amendment

The joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and National Assembly has unanimously approved the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, clearing the way for its presentation in the Senate on Monday morning.

The federal government moved a significant constitutional reform package to the upper house as the proposed 27th Amendment Bill was formally presented in the Senate, following approval from the federal cabinet on Saturday (yesterday). The bill seeks to introduce major structural changes to Pakistan’s military command framework and judicial system.

Read more: Joint parliamentary committee approves draft of 27th Constitutional Amendment

Under the proposal, a new post titled Chief of the Defence Forces would be created, effectively replacing the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The amendment outlines a revised chain of command by altering Article 243, which deals with the control and command of the armed forces.

The bill also proposes the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court mandated to adjudicate constitutional disputes and provide authoritative interpretation of constitutional questions. For this purpose, a separate new chapter would be inserted into Part VII of the Constitution.

In addition, the amendment seeks notable changes to Article 175A, which currently governs the appointment of judges to superior courts. The proposed modifications are aimed at reshaping the process of judicial appointments in line with the new constitutional court framework.

PM withdraws immunity clause

Also read: Judiciary weighs response to 27th Amendment

In a post on X, Shehbaz said he learnt of the development upon his return from Azerbaijan and clarified that the proposal was not part of the Cabinet-approved draft. “While I acknowledge their intent in good faith, the proposal was not part of the Cabinet-approved draft. I have instructed that it be withdrawn immediately,” he stated.

On my return from Azerbaijan, I have learnt that some Senators belonging to our party have submitted an amendment regarding immunity for the Prime Minister.

While I acknowledge their intent in good faith, the proposal was not part of the Cabinet-approved draft. I have…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 9, 2025

Reaffirming his stance on accountability, the prime minister added that “an elected Prime Minister must remain fully accountable, both before the court of law and the people”.

Federal Law Minister said the committee members had been informed of the prime minister’s message, confirming that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had withdrawn the clause relating to immunity for the prime minister.