President Asif Ali Zardari has officially signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, following its approval by both the National Assembly and the Senate, making it a permanent part of Pakistan’s Constitution. The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed amid intense political debate and opposition protests, marking a major legislative development in the country’s political landscape.
The Senate approved the controversial amendment for the second time after the National Assembly endorsed it with additional changes. Announcing the result, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani confirmed that the bill received 64 votes in favour and four against, meeting the required 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,” he stated.
During the session, the Upper House witnessed heated exchanges as senators voted clause by clause on the bill. Opposition members shouted “na manzoor” (unacceptable) slogans, prompting repeated calls for order from Chairman Gilani. Despite the uproar, the legislation was successfully adopted after a detailed voting process.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar reintroduced the bill in the Senate after the National Assembly passed it with certain modifications. The legislation had previously cleared the Senate earlier in the week but required another round of voting to incorporate the newly approved amendments.
In the National Assembly, the 27th Constitutional Amendment also secured a two-thirds majority, with 234 members voting in favour and only four opposing it. The opposition parties, however, boycotted the proceedings, further highlighting the political divide over the amendment.