The 26th Constitutional Amendment, which became law earlier on Monday after the approval of both houses of the Parliament, was given assent by President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday. Pakistani politics saw a second “working weekend” in as many months, where the ruling coalition finally succeeded in passing the much-touted ‘Constitutional Package’ with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the National Assembly. The 26th Amendment brings changes to the Constitution, most of which pertain to the judiciary. Some main reforms include taking away the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers, setting the chief justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) term at three years, and empowering the prime minister to appoint the next CJP from among the three most senior SC judges.

On Sunday, the bill, which had 22 clauses, was greenlit by the Senate with a two-thirds majority. Then, during a session that began late on Sunday night and continued past 5am on Monday, the National Assembly also passed it with a two-thirds majority. The NA-approved version had 27 clauses after incorporating suggestions made by the Senate. Following the conclusion of parliamentary procedures, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to Radio Pakistan, sent his advice to President Zardari for his assent on the newly enacted law — titled ‘The Constitution (26th Amendment) Act, 2024’. Following the passage of the bill, PM Shehbaz delivered a speech in the NA and congratulated the parliament for the “historical achievement”.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan