Asad Qasim
ISLAMABAD: Asad Qasim has been elected as a senator from Balochistan on a general seat, according to a report, on Thursday. His victory was officially confirmed by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which issued a notification certifying his success in the Senate elections.
Asad Qasim contested the election as an independent candidate and secured the seat that was left vacant by his father, former senator Muhammad Qasim Roonjho.
The seat became available following Roonjho’s resignation after he voted in favor of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, a move that went against his party’s policy.
Muhammad Qasim Roonjho had been a member of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M). However, following his decision to support the constitutional amendment, the BNP-M chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, directed him to resign from his position for violating the party’s stance.
As a result, the Senate seat was left open, and Asad Qasim contested and won the election as an independent candidate.
The 26th Constitutional Amendment
The 26th Constitutional Amendment, which was passed by Parliament during the midnight session between the 20th and 21st of the month, introduced significant changes to the judiciary of Pakistan. One of the key provisions of the amendment is the restriction of the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s tenure, which has now been fixed at three years.
Additionally, the amendment has reformed the process of selecting the Chief Justice. A 12-member parliamentary committee will be responsible for choosing the new Chief Justice from a panel comprising the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court.
This committee will consist of eight members from the National Assembly and four from the Senate. After selecting a candidate, the committee will forward the nomination to the Prime Minister, who will then send it to the President for final approval.
Furthermore, the amendment has also revised the appointment process for Supreme Court judges. A judicial commission, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, will oversee the selection of judges.
The commission will include three senior judges of the Supreme Court, two members each from the National Assembly and Senate, the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, the Attorney General of Pakistan, and a nominee of the Pakistan Bar Council. The nominee from the Pakistan Bar Council must have at least fifteen years of legal practice in the Supreme Court.
These amendments mark a major shift in Pakistan’s judicial structure, introducing a more structured and consultative process for the appointment of the Chief Justice and other judges of the Supreme Court.
The political implications of these changes continue to be debated, with some viewing them as a step toward greater accountability and transparency, while others argue they could impact judicial independence.
