Islamabad (TDI): In a significant political development, the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, also known as the Constitutional Package, has successfully passed through both houses of Parliament after extensive negotiations that spanned over a month.
The bill, which received initial approval from the Senate with a two-thirds majority, was debated during a late-night session of the National Assembly that commenced at 11:36 PM and concluded at 5 AM on Monday.
Now known as the Constitution (Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2024, the legislation has been forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari for final assent, as per Article 75 of Pakistan’s Constitution, according to media reports.
To ensure the bill’s passage, the government needed 224 votes. Under the supervision of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, voting revealed that 225 members supported the motion, with 12 members from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Sunni-Ittehad Council (SIC) voting against it.
Following the passage of the first clause, PTI members exited the assembly, leading to a smoother approval process for the remaining clauses, which reflected the ruling coalition’s strong backing amid an absence of dissent.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the bill in the assembly, outlining its key features.
The National Assembly session saw contributions from various political leaders, including a lengthy speech from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who expressed gratitude to coalition partners and acknowledged the pivotal role of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the bill’s success.
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“This amendment is a testament to national solidarity and consensus,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the bill’s passage.
The 26th Constitutional Amendment includes significant changes, such as the fixing of the Chief Justice’s term.
Discussions on this amendment were previously held in a special parliamentary committee with representation from all political parties, including the PTI.
Reactions
While coalition leaders hailed the amendment as a historic achievement, the PTI launched a vehement critique, with its Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, arguing that the amendments failed to reflect the will of the people.
He claimed the process had been marred by intimidation and alleged the mistreatment of PTI lawmakers.
“The amendments undermine judicial independence,” he declared.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif responded to PTI’s criticism, asserting that the amendments were part of a broader effort to restore parliamentary dignity and reiterated that the changes were not novel but a continuation of the Charter of Democracy signed in 2006.
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He emphasized the importance of constitutional integrity amid the shifting political landscape.
The successful passage of the amendment was not without contention, as PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan expressed the party’s decision to boycott the voting process, despite stating they had “no objections” to the bill’s content.
The party’s stance was rooted in concerns over alleged harassment of its members.
As the political landscape evolves, the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s governance, illustrating the complex interplay of power and consensus-building among the nation’s political entities.
