In a significant legislative achievement, the federal government successfully secured a two-thirds majority for the passage of the 26th constitutional amendment in the National Assembly during the early hours of Monday, following its approval in the Senate.
In the Senate, the amendment received support from 65 members, with only four opposing it. Meanwhile, in the National Assembly, 225 members voted in favor, while 12 opposed the amendment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised the unanimous passage of the 26th constitutional amendment by Pakistan’s Parliament, calling it a “shining example of national consensus”.
Addressing the joint session after the Senate and National Assembly approved the amendment by a two-thirds majority, Shehbaz said it marks a “great day” in the country’s history.
The 26th constitutional amendment introduces key reforms to the appointment process and tenure of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It also mandates the establishment of constitutional benches at the Supreme Court, ensuring equal representation from all provinces, and at the high courts. The senior-most judge on each constitutional bench will serve as its presiding officer.
Under the new amendment, the term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan is set at three years. A 12-member parliamentary committee, consisting of eight members from the National Assembly and four from the Senate, will nominate the new Chief Justice from a panel of the three most senior judges. The committee will propose the nominee to the Prime Minister, who will then forward the recommendation to the President for final approval.
Additionally, the amendment outlines the formation of a Judicial Commission of Pakistan, led by the Chief Justice and including three senior judges, two members each from the National Assembly and Senate, the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, the Attorney General, and a nominee from the Pakistan Bar Council with at least fifteen years of Supreme Court practice. This commission will oversee the appointments of Supreme Court judges and monitor their performance, reporting any concerns to the Supreme Judicial Council.
The amendment also revises the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council to ensure a diverse and robust judicial structure. The council will include the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the two most senior judges of the Supreme Court, and the two most senior Chief Justices of the High Courts.
A notable provision of the amendment is the complete eradication of Riba (interest) from the country by January 1, 2028, marking a significant shift in the country’s financial system.
