Islamabad
The Pakistan Cabinet has approved a draft for the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment, which has sparked much debate. On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting with coalition partners, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), to discuss the amendment.
The government plans to present the proposed judicial reforms bill in both the Senate and the National Assembly today. Before the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sharif met former President Asif Ali Zardari to go over the amendment details.
Federal Minister Musadik Malik announced that the draft was created in collaboration with the PPP and coalition partners, and it has now received official approval. The coalition government is hopeful about passing the amendment, with parliamentary sessions scheduled for later today.
Strict security measures are in place for the sessions, including limited guest entry. While the government has not publicly shared the amendment’s details, reports suggest it aims to reduce the power of an independent judiciary.
Key proposals include raising the retirement age for judges and setting fixed terms for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. To pass, the amendment needs a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament.
Historically, the government has faced challenges securing enough votes, but Defense Minister Khawaja Asif claims support has now been gathered. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party is willing to back the amendment if satisfied with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s responses. The PTI, however, has announced plans to boycott the session, claiming its members are being pressured to support the bill.
