National Assembly Approves 26th Constitutional Amendment
Pakistan’s National Assembly approves the 26th Constitutional Amendment with 225 votes in favor. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hails it as a historic moment for democracy.
21 October 2024 | Reporter: Imtiaz Ali Abbasi | Posted by: The largest English Digital News Network
ISLAMABAD: The 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, previously approved by the Senate, has been successfully passed by the National Assembly with an overwhelming majority. A total of 225 members voted in favor, while 12 members opposed the bill. The amendment was presented in the National Assembly by Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Azam Nazeer Tarar.
Speaker of the National Assembly conducted the clause-by-clause approval of the 27 clauses included in the 26th Constitutional Amendment before initiating the voting process. To ensure maximum attendance, the session bells were rung continuously for five minutes, after which the lobbies were closed, and the House was divided into two groups for voting.
Members in favor of the amendment moved to the Speaker’s right, while those against it gathered to the left. Each member signed the register in the lobby before casting their vote. After voting concluded, the Speaker announced the final results, confirming that the amendment passed with 225 votes in favor.
For the two-thirds majority required for the amendment's approval, a minimum of 224 members' support was needed. With 225 votes, the amendment successfully achieved this threshold.
Prime Minister's Speech
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He also emphasized the historical significance of the day, stating, "In Pakistan’s history, this is a great day, as it proves that Parliament is supreme." The Prime Minister also addressed past injustices faced by democratic governments and noted that with these amendments, citizens would now find it easier to access justice.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also extended congratulations to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the federal cabinet, and all allied parties for this landmark approval. He highlighted the historical importance of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, calling it "a new dawn for Pakistan." The minister further elaborated that this amendment would bring stability to legal and constitutional matters and remove barriers to the dispensation of justice.
With the amendment now passed, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif signed the advice to send the bill for final approval by the President of Pakistan.
