Breaking: Pakistan’s Bold Move – The Controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill Approved!
The Pakistan Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved the draft of the contentious 26th constitutional amendment, after consultations with coalition partners. The proposed judicial reforms bill is set to be presented in both the Senate and the National Assembly on Sunday, although the details remain undisclosed. It is speculated that the amendment aims to reduce the powers of the judiciary, including altering the retirement age for judges and the term of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Passing a constitutional amendment mandates a two-thirds majority in both legislative bodies. Reports suggest optimism within the coalition government, which includes the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), about securing enough support to pass the amendment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz had previously discussed the amendment with President Asif Ali Zardari before the cabinet’s approval. Federal Minister Musadik Malik confirmed that the draft, developed in collaboration with the PPP and coalition partners, has been endorsed.
Both legislative sessions are scheduled for Sunday, with heightened security measures in place. Recently, the government seemed without sufficient support in the Senate and National Assembly, but Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claims they now possess enough backing. Notably, JUI-F, following negotiations, agreed to support the amendment after the government omitted elements deemed unacceptable to the party.
An important aspect of the bill includes preventing Justice Masoor Ali Shah from succeeding the current Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to retire on October 25. Contrary to some reports, extending judges’ retirement age from 65 to 68 is not part of the amendment. For successful passage, the amendment must be approved before Isa’s retirement, requiring 224 votes in the 336-member National Assembly and 64 votes in the Senate. Presently, the coalition holds 213 seats in the NA and 52 in the Senate.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/international/story/pakistan-approves-controversial-26th-constitutional-amendment-bill-1108736-2024-10-20?utm_source=rssfeed
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