ISLAMABAD: The act of high treason through subverting or holding the Constitution in abeyance cannot be validated by any court, as the Senate of Pakistan has approved the additional clauses in the 27th Constitutional Amendment with 64 votes, securing a two-thirds majority.
Likewise, the post of Field Marshal has been granted constitutional protection along with the immunity.
The Senate session, chaired by Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, approved additional clauses of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, previously passed by the National Assembly. The approval came after Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the final motion for passage.
During the session, clause-by-clause voting took place, with 64 senators voting in favour and 4 against the additional amendments. The bill secured a two-thirds majority in the Upper House. Senators from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) opposed the bill, while Senators Saifullah Abro and Ahmed Khan voted in its favour.
Several clauses including 4, 19, 22, 51, and 55 were deleted by a two-thirds majority. Clause 2 was approved, while clause 53 was amended. Following the vote, PTI senators boycotted proceedings and staged a walkout from the chamber.
Azam Nazeer Tarar
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the 27th Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2025 amid protests and slogans from PTI benches.
Tarar clarified that the position of the Chief Justice of Pakistan would remain unchanged, confirming that the incumbent Chief Justice Yahya Afridi would continue in his role.
He added that under Article 6, any attempt to subvert the Constitution by force would not be validated by any court. The Law Minister further explained that the Chief Justice and Auditor General would continue to take their oaths before the Chief Justice of Pakistan, emphasizing that no court could endorse any unconstitutional or martial law action.
Senator Dinesh Kumar, outside the Parliament, while talking to media claimed that eight more senators were ready to vote.
The Senate session also included the presentation of reports on various matters. Senator Mohsin Aziz submitted a report on issues of public importance, while the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority Bill 2025 was tabled. Senator Masroor Ahsan presented a report on food security, and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb laid the State Bank’s Annual Report for FY2024–25, outlining fiscal policy and economic trends. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry presented a three-year report of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
27th Constitutional Amendment
A day earlier, the National Assembly had approved the 27th Amendment with 234 votes in favour and 4 against. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto were in attendance.
Addressing the House after the vote, the Prime Minister praised the unity shown by parliamentarians and commended the armed forces for their swift response to the recent Wana Cadet College attack, recalling its resemblance to the APS tragedy.
Read More: NA passes 27th Constitutional Amendment
The amendment also addressed earlier confusion regarding the title of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. A revision to Article 176(23) clarified that Justice Yahya Afridi would remain Chief Justice throughout his tenure, which began in October 2024 when he took oath as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan. The new definition, effective after his retirement, states that the title “Chief Justice of Pakistan” will thereafter refer to the senior-most among the Chief Justices of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and the Supreme Court.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar reiterated that contrary to speculation, the 27th Amendment does not abolish the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Justice Afridi will continue to head the Supreme Judicial Council and the Judicial Commission of Pakistan until his term concludes. Afterward, the senior-most Chief Justice between the FCC and the Supreme Court will assume the role.
