President Zardari Signs 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill into Law

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill into law after its approval by both houses of Parliament, officially making it part of the Constitution.

The Senate passed the bill for the second time on Thursday amid loud protests and slogan-chanting from opposition benches. Announcing the result, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani said the bill secured 64 votes in favour and four against, fulfilling the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority.

“The motion is therefore carried by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate, and consequently, the bill stands passed,” Gilani declared.

The session saw heated scenes as senators voted clause by clause on the contentious legislation, with opposition members shouting “na manzoor” (unacceptable) and repeatedly disrupting proceedings. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar re-tabled the bill after the National Assembly’s approval a day earlier with certain amendments.

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The legislation, previously cleared by the upper house earlier this week, required a fresh vote to incorporate those changes.

A day before, the National Assembly had passed the bill with a two-thirds majority — 234 votes in favour and four against — amid protests, torn papers, and an opposition walkout.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment introduces the formation of a Federal Constitutional Court, revises provisions concerning the command of the armed forces, and includes changes related to the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

While the government has hailed the development as a milestone toward constitutional reform, opposition parties have vowed to challenge the amendment, calling it an attempt to undermine judicial independence.