ISLAMABAD, OCT 22: After the successful legislation of the 26th Constitutional Amendment by both the Senate and National Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the legal reforms will ensure quick redressal of people’s cases pending with the judiciary.
“With the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the people will get quick justice from the judicial system,” said the premier, while addressing a meeting with his cabinet — whom he congratulated for the development — in Islamabad on Tuesday.
He added that the establishment of constitutional benches would offer convenience to the common man.
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“A long consultation with the ruling parties and those in the Opposition was held regarding the 26th Constitutional Amendment,” he maintained.
The prime minister’s remarks came after the ruling coalition succeeded in pushing the highly contentious judicial reforms through the parliament via a two-third majority with 225 and 65 votes in the lower and upper house, respectively.
Under the judicial reforms — opposed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which boycotted the voting process — the chief justice of Pakistan will now be selected by a parliamentary committee and have a fixed term of three years. A new constitutional bench will also be formed under the constitutional package.
Following the late-night marathon session in the parliament which began on Sunday evening and ended in the early morning hours on Monday, PM Shehbaz sent an advice to President Zardari to give his assent and sign the legislation into law.
After the president’s assent, the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 has now become an Act of the parliament which be followed by the formation of a special parliamentary committee — responsible for the appointment of the new CJP under clause 3 of Article 175A of the Constitution.
Incumbent CJP Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to retire on October 25, will send the names of three senior judges to the committee under sub-clause 3 of Article 175A.
The committee will appoint the next CJP and will send the name to the PM who will then forward it to the president.
In the cabinet meeting today, PM Shehbaz insisted that the constitutional tweaks are the fulfillment of another vision of the Charter of Democracy that was signed by then-Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif on May 14, 2006.
He added that the amendment would be effective towards the development and prosperity of Pakistan.
He also thanked President Asif Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman for their support in ensuring the passege of the legal reforms.
PM Shehbaz also acknowledged the role of his elder brother and party chief Nawaz, who “guided” him in the process.
Highlights of the bill
Chief Justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) tenure fixed at three years.
Constitutional benches to be established at the SC and high courts.
Senior-most judge of each bench to serve as presiding officer.
Parliamentary committee to nominate new CJP from panel of three most senior judges.
Committee to propose name to PM, who will then forward it to president for final approval.
JCP, led by CJP and three others, responsible for appointment of SC judges.
JCP to monitor judges’ performance, report any concerns to Supreme Judicial Council.
Complete eradication of Riba (interest) from country by January 1, 2028.
