PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan Declares Party Will Not Vote on 26th Amendment Bill 2024
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has announced that his party will abstain from voting on the 26th Amendment Bill 2024. This long-awaited legislation, aimed at implementing judicial reforms that have sparked contention between the government and the opposition—particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)—was finally introduced in the Senate on Sunday evening after weeks of political negotiations.
The bill was tabled shortly after the federal cabinet approved the draft amendments, which had been delayed due to strong opposition from the PTI. Political leaders were in discussions about the proposed constitutional changes until late Saturday night, raising uncertainty about the bill’s introduction.
Originally scheduled for presentation a day earlier, the coalition government postponed it at the request of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who indicated his party would support the amendments only after receiving clarification from the PTI.
The PTI has repeatedly expressed concerns about the judiciary-oriented provisions, including a fixed three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), the establishment of constitutional benches, restructuring of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the formation of a Special Parliamentary Committee to recommend appointments for the CJP from among the three senior-most judges.
In the Senate session, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the government’s allied parties and JUI-F had reached a consensus on the draft. He requested Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani to allow the bill to be tabled as a supplementary agenda, explaining that the procedure for appointing judges had been altered in the 18th Amendment.
Responding to criticism, Tarar emphasized that CJP Qazi Faez Isa has consistently expressed no desire to extend his tenure. He highlighted the need for judicial reforms, referencing a former chief justice known for frequently issuing suo moto notices and commenting on the judiciary’s role in sending elected prime ministers home.
Tarar detailed that the proposed constitutional package includes establishing a constitutional bench within the Supreme Court, with judges appointed by a judicial commission that would also evaluate their performance. He noted that a 12-member parliamentary committee would appoint the CJP with a two-thirds majority.
PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar argued that the Constitution should be viewed as a “social contract” uniting the nation, asserting that amendments should be made with consensus to avoid damaging democracy. He stated that PTI lawmakers had agreed not to vote on the bill and requested that any votes from PTI members be disregarded.
While initially indicating they would boycott the voting process, Gohar later confirmed to reporters that PTI would abstain from voting and present their stance in parliament. He praised Maulana Fazl for his support against the constitutional package, emphasizing that Imran Khan’s guidance was paramount for party decisions.
JUI-F chief Fazl remarked that they had made adjustments to the draft amendments, which he acknowledged PTI had the right to oppose, especially considering their recent experiences.
In response to the cabinet’s approval, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the decision as a significant achievement for Pakistan’s development, assuring the nation that the government remains committed to public welfare and constitutional integrity.
The proposed amendments aim to implement various judicial reforms, including a fixed three-year term for the CJP, establishment of constitutional benches, restructuring the Supreme Judicial Council, and forming a committee to recommend the CJP’s appointment from among the senior-most judges.
