Details of 26th Constitutional Amendment Revealed

After weeks of speculation, the details of the 26th constitutional amendment have been made public. Sources reveal that the original draft has undergone significant changes, with numerous amendments made at the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Key Amendments

• The government and JUI-F have agreed on a minimum agenda, with efforts made by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
• Amendments regarding military courts in Article 51 and 200 have been withdrawn.
• The proposed clause to increase judges’ age limit to 68 years has been taken back.
• An agreement has been reached on the establishment of a constitutional court, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.
• The constitutional court will comprise 5-7 judges and hear cases related to constitutional matters.

Other Agreements

• Amendment in Article 63-A and floor-crossing vote will be counted.
• Abolition of the 19th Amendment to restore the 18th Constitutional Amendment in its original shape.
• Merger of the judicial commission and parliamentary committee for appointment of judges.
• Abolition of the election commission’s role in appointing the caretaker prime minister.
• A 12-member parliamentary committee will appoint the caretaker PM.

Next Steps

• A constitutional draft comprising agreed parts of legislation will be prepared by next week.
• Disagreed aspects will not be included in the draft.
• The 26th Amendment will not be passed in a hurry.

Conclusion

The revelation of the 26th constitutional amendment details marks a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape. With key agreements reached, the stage is set for a new era of constitutional reform.

Also Read: Constitutional Amendment Bill Delayed Again