Following extensive negotiations between the treasury and opposition, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced that the federal cabinet will convene again at 2:30 PM today (Sunday) to finalize and approve the contentious 26th constitutional amendment.
Addressing a press conference late Saturday night alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the law minister revealed that the draft, prepared by the special parliamentary committee, was presented during the federal cabinet session. This meeting, initially scheduled for early Saturday, faced multiple delays. Key attendees included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, IPP leader Awn Chaudhry, and leaders of allied parties.
Tarar explained that the cabinet was briefed on changes made to the draft, and the final version, with input from both treasury and opposition members, is expected to be approved today. The next cabinet session is scheduled for 2:30 PM, with the Senate set to convene at 3 PM and the National Assembly at 6 PM. If endorsed by the cabinet, the draft will be presented in both houses of parliament later today.
After considerable political maneuvering, government and opposition members reportedly reached a consensus on the 26th amendment. The draft includes the creation of a constitutional bench, a parliamentary role in appointing the Chief Justice of Pakistan from a list of three judges, restructuring of the Judicial Council and Supreme Judicial Council, and limiting the Chief Justice’s term to three years.
Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed that his party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have agreed on the amendment. Bilawal has also sought to gain consensus from all political parties, including the PTI.
During ongoing discussions, the PTI requested more time until Monday to consult its imprisoned leader. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman assured that he would push the government to avoid rushing the legislative process.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s residence has been the center of attention as ruling parties and political leaders, including a PTI delegation, met with him to seek consensus on the judicial package. PTI also held consultations with BNP-M Chief Akhtar Mengal and PkMAP Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai to resist the government’s judicial package.
According to the draft, the commission for appointing Supreme Court judges will include the Chief Justice, four senior judges, the federal law minister, attorney-general, a Pakistan Bar Council nominee, two senators, and two members from the National Assembly. The draft further stipulates that constitutional benches should comprise an equal number of judges from each province and that the Chief Justice will retire after serving a three-year term. Amendments to Article 209 propose restructuring the Supreme Judicial Council to include the Chief Justice, the two next senior Supreme Court judges, and two senior high court chief justices.