Party seeks action under Article 63-A, says senator violated policy by backing constitutional bill
The National Assembly has passed the 27th Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on Wednesday. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted a declaration of defection against Senator Saifullah Abro to the Senate chairman, seeking action under Article 63-A of the Constitution for allegedly voting in favour of the 27th Constitutional Amendment in violation of party policy.
The declaration, filed by PTI’s Parliamentary Party Leader in the Senate Syed Ali Zafar, states that Abro voted in favour of the amendment during two Senate sittings in November 2025, contrary to what the party describes as its formally communicated directions to lawmakers.
According to the declaration, a show-cause notice was issued to the senator, and no reply was received within the stipulated period. The party has declared that Abro stands in violation of party discipline and has been declared to have defected from PTI in terms of Article 63-A. The declaration has been forwarded to the Senate chairman for transmission to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
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Article 63-A of the Constitution of Pakistan provides that a member of Parliament may be declared to have defected if they vote contrary to the party’s declared policy on matters including constitutional amendments, money bills, votes of confidence or no-confidence, and the election of the prime minister or chief minister.
Under the constitutional procedure, a declaration issued by the party head is forwarded to the presiding officer of the relevant House and then referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan, which determines whether the member ceases to hold office in accordance with the Constitution.
Read more: The 27th Amendment
The 27th Constitutional Amendment has been the subject of extensive parliamentary debate, particularly in relation to questions of constitutional restructuring and institutional jurisdiction. Political parties adopted firm internal positions on the amendment during voting, with PTI directing its lawmakers to oppose the bill, a position reflected in the declaration filed against Abro.
Following submission of the declaration to the Senate chairman, the matter is required to be placed before the Election Commission of Pakistan for a decision under Article 63-A, as requested in the party’s declaration.
PTI has stated in the document that the proceedings were undertaken in accordance with constitutional requirements.
