Pakistan President Signs 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill into Law

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill into law, following its approval by both houses of Parliament. With his signature, the amendment has now formally become part of the Constitution.

Earlier, the Senate passed the Amendment Bill, completing one of the most significant institutional reforms in decades.

The Bill passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday was returned to the Senate for approval of the supplementary amendments.

Today’s passage formalises changes to the military’s command structure and the judiciary, drawing support from the government and sharp criticism from opposition parties and some legal experts.

The amendment elevates the role of the military chief by creating a new position of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) to oversee all branches of the armed forces, replacing the office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

It also granted legal immunity to the office of Field Marshal post-term. These changes are made by amending Article 243 of the Constitution.

At the same time, the amendment reorganises the judicial framework by creating a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to handle constitutional cases, a responsibility that previously rested with the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench.

Opposition lawmakers staged walkouts and protests during the proceedings. Opposition members belonging to PTI and JUI‑F criticised the process as “a threat to democratic institutions.”

Some legal experts argued that the amendment weakens judicial independence and shifts the balance of power.

The full text of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, is provided below. The bill has now become law after the President of Pakistan endorsed it.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment

Article 199 & 200

• The President has the power to transfer High Court judges between provinces on the Judicial Commission’s recommendation

Article 248

• A new clause grants the President lifetime legal immunity
• If the President is elected back into office, immunity will be waived for the duration of their time in public office

Article 243

• Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to be abolished from November 27, 2025.
• Strategic military authority to be concentrated under the Chief of the Defence Forces.
• Officers granted constitutional protection can only be removed through the Article 47 procedure.
• Presidential immunity under Article 248 extended to these officers.

Federal Constitutional Courts (New Chapter – Part VII)

• FCC to have original jurisdiction in Constitutional disputes between the government and fundamental rights enforcement cases
• Pending petitions or appeals in the Supreme Court or its constitutional benches under this jurisdiction are to be transferred to FCC.
• Abolishes suo motu powers of SC and deletes Articles 184, 186, and 191A.
• Justice Yahya Afridi will continue as the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
• “Pakistan” will be removed from the Supreme Court.

Article 6

• Any act of treason mentioned in sub-clause one or two shall not be validated by any court, including the Federal Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, or the High Courts.