Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif celebrated a “historic day” on Sunday following the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment in the National Assembly, declaring it a significant victory for the supremacy of Parliament.
Addressing the house after the late-night session, the prime minister said, “Today, we have affirmed that Parliament is supreme,” as 225 members, including coalition partners and independent lawmakers, voted in favor of the judicial reforms bill.
The reforms, which passed with crucial support from independent candidates, include significant changes to the judiciary’s structure. Under the new provisions, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will now be selected by a parliamentary committee and serve a fixed term of three years. Additionally, a new constitutional bench will be established.
Although the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not support the bill and abstained from voting, the government managed to secure 225 votes, just above the 224 required for the amendment.
During his speech, PM Shehbaz underscored the broader significance of the amendment. “This is not just a legal reform but a testament to unity and consensus across the political spectrum,” he remarked.
Reflecting on the political history, the prime minister criticized past political maneuvering, referring to “palace conspiracies” that had previously led to the ousting of governments and prime ministers. He highlighted the financial and institutional damage caused by such decisions, noting, “Billions were lost due to arbitrary decisions that harmed the economy.”
The key features of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, 2024, include:
- Fixing the Chief Justice’s tenure at three years
- Establishing constitutional benches in the Supreme Court and high courts
- Ensuring the senior-most judge of each bench serves as the presiding officer
- Creating a parliamentary committee to nominate the CJP from a panel of the three most senior judges
- Forwarding the nominated name to the president for final approval
- Granting the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) the authority to appoint Supreme Court judges and monitor their performance
- Eradicating Riba (interest) from the country by January 1, 2028
PM Shehbaz also touched on the inefficiencies in the justice system, noting how many Pakistanis still await justice for cases that have been delayed for years. “There are people who have lost loved ones while waiting for justice. This amendment will help make access to justice easier for ordinary citizens,” he said.
The prime minister honored the legacy of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, crediting the Charter of Democracy, signed in 2006, for laying the foundation for these reforms. He also expressed gratitude to political allies such as President Asif Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and JUI-F Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman for their roles in the amendment’s passage.
Addressing critics, PM Shehbaz emphasized the legitimacy of the vote, dismissing claims of political maneuvering. “No one can question the legitimacy of this vote. It wasn’t influenced by ‘lotas’ (turncoats); this was the genuine will of elected representatives.”
Though he regretted PTI’s absence from the process, the prime minister declared the amendment a victory for Pakistan, stressing that personal interests had been set aside for the nation’s greater good.
In closing, PM Shehbaz thanked the Speaker of the National Assembly and all members involved, expressing confidence that the reforms would strengthen the judiciary and safeguard Pakistan’s future.
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