Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal)-The PMLN-led federal government secured a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to pass the 26th constitutional amendment, just hours after its passage in the Senate. This significant change allows parliament to appoint the Chief Justice of Pakistan from existing apex court members and establishes a mechanism for constitutional benches to hear constitutional matters.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the amendment bill, which garnered support from at least 225 National Assembly members, including eight JUI members and six independents. However, 12 members from PTI and the Sunni-Ittehad Council opposed the motion .
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Notable figures present during the bill’s introduction included Nawaz Sharif, PM Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The session was briefly adjourned before midnight, resuming at 12:05 am with speeches .
President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to grant his assent to the amendment today, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s constitutional history. This development underscores the government’s commitment to reforming the judicial system and strengthening parliamentary oversight. The numbers
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The ruling coalition in the National Assembly required at least 224 votes to pass the constitutional amendment, but it held only 211 seats.
This included 111 PML-N, 69 PPP, 22 MQM, 5 Q-League, 4 IPP, and one each from PML-Zia, Balochistan Awami Party, and the National Party.
With three coalition members facing references, the total government number was 211. Including the support of 8 JUI members, the total rose to 219, leaving the government needing an additional 5 votes to pass the amendment.
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The opposition holds 80 seats from the Sunni Ittehad Council, 8 PTI-supported independents, and one each from the Balochistan National Party, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
This is how four PTI backed independent MNA and one PMLQ MNA who returned the party at the eleventh hour played a key role to tilt the scales.
The Senate Sunday evening passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment with a two-thirds majority.
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In the Senate, the amendment received 58 votes from the government, 5 from JUI-F, and 2 from the Balochistan National Party.
PTI, Sunni Ittehad Council, and MWM members left the Senate chamber during the clause-by-clause approval of the amendment.
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