The 26th Constitution Amendment Bill 2024 was finally enacted by the Senate and National Assembly after significant debate and several delays. House members voted in favour of all 22 articles.
In order to become law, the bill must now pass the National Assembly. Lawmakers have begun congregating in the lower chamber, and a NA session is about to start.
Known as the Constitutional Package, the bill is a piece of legislation that proposes a number of constitutional reforms, one of which is the extension of the chief justice’s term. All parties, including the PTI, were represented on the special parliamentary committee that was established last month and has been debating a number of recommendations.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the measure in the Senate today after it was approved by the federal cabinet earlier in the day with the support of the government’s coalition partners.
Senators gave their statements after the law minister introduced the measure at the start of the session.
Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani read the measure’s contents and requested senators to vote after it was formally tabled. The bill has 22 sections.
After voting, a two-thirds majority of voters adopted the constitutional amendment bill.
According to Gilani, “four members are against the motion regarding the passage of the bill, while 65 members are in favour of it.” “Therefore, the bill is passed after the motion is approved by at least two-thirds of the Senate’s members.”
In response to rumours that the Constitutional Package might extend the chief justice’s term, Tarar made it clear that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had no interest in doing so.
“The top judge expressed his disinterest in extending his tenure in the three meetings I had with him, stating that any changes would take effect following his retirement,” Tarar stated.
