ISLAMABAD, October 20,2024: The much awaited 26th Amendment Bill, aimed at introducing judicial reforms, was finally tabled in the Senate on Sunday evening after weeks of political disputes between the government and opposition, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The bill, which has been a point of contention for some time, was introduced shortly after the federal cabinet approved the draft amendments.
Negotiations between political leaders continued into late Saturday night, with uncertainty surrounding the bill’s introduction due to strong opposition from PTI. The coalition government had initially planned to present the legislation on Saturday but decided to defer it at the request of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Rehman had urged a delay until PTI responded to the draft, allowing his party to cast its votes in favor of the amendment.
The PTI has raised concerns over several key provisions of the bill, including the establishment of a fixed three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), the creation of constitutional benches, restructuring of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the formation of a Special Parliamentary Committee to recommend CJP appointments from among the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court. These issues have fueled tensions and delays.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, addressing the Senate, confirmed that the government’s allied parties and JUI-F had reached a consensus on the draft bill. He also pointed out that a special parliamentary committee, composed of representatives from all major political parties, had thoroughly discussed the proposed amendments.
Tarar requested Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani to allow him to table the draft of the 26th Amendment Bill as a supplementary agenda. He reminded the House that the procedure for appointing judges had already been altered by the 18th Amendment, laying the foundation for further reforms.
Although PTI initially announced it would boycott the voting process on the bill, the party later reversed its decision. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated that party lawmakers would now participate in the parliamentary proceedings.
The introduction of the 26th Amendment Bill marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over judicial reforms in Pakistan, with its passage likely to impact the country’s judicial landscape.