The 26th Constitutional Amendment was recently approved by both houses of Parliament and granted assent by President Asif Ali Zardari. This amendment introduces significant changes to the Constitution, particularly concerning the judiciary. Key reforms include limiting the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers, establishing the chief justice of Pakistan’s term at three years, and giving the prime minister authority to appoint the next chief justice from the three most senior Supreme Court judges.
The bill, with 22 original clauses, was endorsed by the Senate and later amended in the National Assembly to include 27 clauses before final approval. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill in the Senate, receiving 65 votes in favor from various political parties. Subsequently, the amendment was supported by 225 members in the National Assembly, surpassing the required threshold of 224 votes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the parliamentary achievement, marking it as a historic moment. The successful passing of the 26th Amendment signifies a significant milestone in Pakistani politics and demonstrates the successful collaboration among ruling coalition members to bring about positive legislative changes.
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