Pakistan's Senate passes constitutional amendment Bill
PTI
The Pakistan Senate has passed the controversial 26th Constitution Amendment Bill, capping the Chief Justice’s tenure for three years, amid opposition from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party.
The Upper House of the Parliament voted 65-4 to approve the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill with the required two-thirds majority. The government needed the support of 64 members. The Bill, approved by the cabinet earlier in the day with the consensus among the ruling coalition partners, was presented in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
"I... wish to introduce a bill further to amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Constitution 26th Amendment Bill, 2024,” Tarar said as he presented the bill in the upper house. "Is it opposed?" asked Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, to which he received no response from the Senate members.
The Bill included 22 clauses of amendments. The Upper House passed the Bill clause-wise and all clauses got the support of 65 senators.
The magic number was achieved after Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's five senators and two lawmakers of Balochistan National Party-Mengal voted in favour of the Bill.
The Upper House of the Parliament voted 65-4 to approve the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill with the required two-thirds majority. The government needed the support of 64 members. The Bill, approved by the cabinet earlier in the day with the consensus among the ruling coalition partners, was presented in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
"I... wish to introduce a bill further to amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Constitution 26th Amendment Bill, 2024,” Tarar said as he presented the bill in the upper house. "Is it opposed?" asked Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, to which he received no response from the Senate members.
The Bill included 22 clauses of amendments. The Upper House passed the Bill clause-wise and all clauses got the support of 65 senators.
The magic number was achieved after Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's five senators and two lawmakers of Balochistan National Party-Mengal voted in favour of the Bill.