26th Constitutional Amendment Bill Passed by National Assembly

The National Assembly has approved the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill following its passage in the Senate, with the government successfully securing a two-thirds majority. During the session, 225 votes were cast in favor of the bill, while 12 members opposed it. Initially, members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the session but later returned to the House.

The session, presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Hamza Shahbaz, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with other prominent members of Parliament. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar presented the bill for approval, and a motion to suspend routine proceedings was also passed.

Under the approved bill, the appointment of Supreme Court judges will be conducted through a Judicial Commission chaired by the Chief Justice, comprising the four senior-most judges, the federal law minister, and the attorney general. Additionally, a lawyer with at least 15 years of experience nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council will serve as a member of the commission for two years, alongside two members each from the National Assembly and the Senate.

The bill also introduces changes to the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction, allowing it to transfer cases from one high court to another or take them up directly. Further clauses include provisions for the elimination of interest (Riba) by 2028 and the appointment of a Supreme Court judge to the Shariat Court.

The Prime Minister has signed off on the amendment bill, forwarding it to the President for formal ratification. The signing ceremony at the Presidency has been postponed and is expected to take place later today.