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After the Senate passed the 26th Constitution Amendment Bill 2024 with a two-thirds majority on Sunday evening, a session of the National Assembly (NA) is now underway to pass the bill.<\/p>\n
The government requires 224 votes to pass the bill and enact it into law.<\/p>\n
The bill, better known as the Consti\u00adtutional Package, is legislation proposing a set of constitutional amendments<\/a>, including the fixture of the chief justice\u2019s term. A special parliamentary committee formed<\/a> last month \u2014 which had the representation of all parties, including the PTI \u2014 had been discussing<\/a> various proposals.<\/p>\n Like in the Senate, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the NA during a session that started late Sunday night and continued until the early hours of Monday morning. At the outset, Tarar outlined the key features of the bill, which had already been approved by the Senate.<\/p>\n After a brief recess, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari delivered a speech that lasted more than 50 minutes. He expressed gratitude to JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for playing a crucial role in securing the passage of the bill.<\/p>\n \u201cMaulana Fazlur Rehman did the most to ensure the success of this bill. His role in this process has been historic, and I can proudly say he played the most significant part in it,\u201d he said. \u201cI can confidently say that there are points in this amendment that have been passed with 100 per cent political consensus.\u201d<\/p>\n Bilawal also thanked PML-N, MQM-P, IPP, JUI-F, ANP, and other parties for their contributions to the bill. He extended his gratitude to the PTI, saying, \u201cI also thank the PTI for playing a part in this historic achievement. This is a political success, and I wish you wouldn\u2019t have portrayed your own victory as a loss.\u201d<\/p>\n PTI\u2019s Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, took over the floor of the NA and criticised the amendments, arguing that they did not reflect the will of the Pakistani people.<\/p>\n Taking a jab at Law Minister Tarar and Bilawal, he said that those who had \u201cgone missing\u201d should have been thanked as well during the note of thanks. Ayub detailed how PTI lawmakers were \u201ctortured and harassed\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThese were all tactics to pressure us. The mistreatment of Imran Khan in jail is also an example,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The PTI had alleged that seven of its lawmakers had been \u201cabducted<\/a>\u201d and that the government was trying to enact the amendment at \u201cgunpoint\u201d.<\/p>\n Ayub also questioned the urgency behind passing the amendments, asking, \u201cWhat would have happened had it been passed on October 31?\u201d<\/p>\n He also said that the amendments were an attempt to undermine the independence of the judiciary.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not think this government is capable of bringing constitutional amendments. Therefore, we have instructed PTI members not to become part of this process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the amendment had been passed by the Senate \u201cto restore respect and dignity of the parliament and the House.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere must be consistency in our political behaviour otherwise we will not get the respect and dignity we seek,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Asif went on to say that the constitutional amendments were not something that the government had \u201cnewly invented\u201d but it was a continuation of the Charter of Democracy that all political leaders, including Imran, had unanimously signed.<\/p>\n The Charter of Democracy<\/a> was signed in London on May 14, 2006, by major political parties in response to the military dictatorship of General Pervez Musharraf, with the aim of promoting democratic norms and preventing the abuse of power by unelected institutions such as the military and judiciary.<\/p>\n Next up to speak was Fazl, who commended all parties, including the PTI, for their contributions to the successful passage of the bill.<\/p>\n He said, \u201cThe topic we are discussing and the amendments we are passing arise from issues surrounding the Supreme Court judges\u2019 desire for extended terms.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing the emergence of these reports, I brought the matter to the floor and advocated for a constitutional amendment to ensure that the legislature and judiciary operate without conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that he had signed the Charter of Democracy as it represented a unified consensus. \u201cIt demanded a constitutional court and we have remained its signatories, but forums emerged where resolutions were presented that spread division.\u201d<\/p>\n Fazl said that the Constitution will remain steadfast, even amid shifting political landscapes.<\/p>\n \u201cAny commitment between the nation and the provinces is reflected in these amendments,\u201d the Maulana continued.<\/p>\n He stressed the sacred nature of the Constitution, saying that \u201cthe more sacred it is, the more challenging it becomes to amend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis shows the importance of preserving constitutional integrity amid political changes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Maulana added that initially, the parties had agreed on 65 clauses. \u201cBut after much consultation, we decided on 22 clauses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Speaking about PTI\u2019s grievances and Imran Khan\u2019s incarceration, Fazl said. \u201cThe PTI\u2019s leader is in jail, in dreadful conditions, the news is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI condemn the cruelty and mistreatment of any political leader. If I had foreseen what would happen to Imran Khan, I would have condemned it at that time,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n Fazl went on to say that there were efforts made to divide the opposition, but \u201cI have worked to make sure there is no division between opposition parties, or between the government and the opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter how much we spoke with stakeholders, we could not reach a consensus on how to form the courts. But this is a democracy, not a dictatorship. We\u2019ve done the impossible; we\u2019ve endured great difficulty,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar said that Pakistan\u2019s political, judicial, and democratic paths had not always been marked by golden words.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all have made mistakes that have escalated political crises and caused conflicts between institutions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though some of the fundamental principles and the 26th Constitutional Amendment render the MQM, its members, and voters vulnerable, we still prioritise the broader interests of the country,\u201d Sattar added.<\/p>\n He added that such a commitment allowed the government to guide the people out of confusion and uncertainty.<\/p>\n Approved by the federal cabinet earlier in the day with the consensus of the government\u2019s coalition partners, the bill was presented in the Senate today by Law Minister Tarar. Once the bill \u2014 containing 22 clauses \u2014 was officially tabled, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani read out its contents and asked lawmakers to cast their votes.<\/p>\n Following the voting, the constitutional amendment bill was approved by a two-thirds majority.<\/p>\n \u201cSixty-five members are in favour of the motion regarding the passage of the bill, and four members are against it,\u201d Gilani said. \u201cSo, the motion is carried out by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate, and consequently, the bill stands passed.\u201d<\/p>\n Senators who refrained from casting votes: 04<\/p>\n Speaking about speculations regarding the extension of the chief justice\u2019s tenure in the Constitutional Package, Tarar clarified that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was not interested in any extension.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the three meetings that I had with the top judge, he reiterated his disinterest in the extension of his tenure, saying that any amendments would come into effect after his retirement,\u201d Tarar said.<\/p>\n Before the Senate session, the law minister also addressed a press conference at Parliament House, flanked by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. During the presser, he outlined the contents of the bill and said that a constitutional bench would be formed by a judicial commission led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).<\/p>\n \u201cBefore the 18th Amendment, judges were appointed by the President on the advice of the PM,\u201d Tarar said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis \u2018new-face\u2019 commission will be made up of the CJP, four of the senior-most Supreme Court judges, two senators and two MNAs \u2014 one of each will be from the opposition,\u201d the law minister said. \u201cWe are aiming to achieve a broader consensus with this commission,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill<\/a> by shahzeb ahmed<\/a> on Scribd<\/p>\nRuling coalition commends move as PTI launches sharp criticism<\/h2>\n
Passage of bill in Senate<\/h2>\n
Breakdown of the votes<\/h2>\n
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CJP\u2019s tenure fixed at 3 years<\/h2>\n