National Assembly passes 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill

Following a vigorous debate and intense negotiations, the Senate successfully passed the pivotal 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 with an overwhelming two-thirds majority on the evening of Sunday. In a subsequent move, the National Assembly mirrored this success by also passing the closely contested bill with a substantial two-thirds majority.

The government was tasked with securing a critical 224 votes to achieve success and managed to garner 225 votes, despite some opposition members staging a dramatic walkout.

The proceedings began with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq initiating the voting process after offering the floor to various parliamentary leaders. The bill, a significant piece of legislation, was introduced in the National Assembly by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during an extended session that kicked off late Sunday night and stretched into the early hours of Monday morning.

This groundbreaking bill has been in the works for quite some time, with a special parliamentary committee, formed last month, playing a crucial role. This committee, which included members from all political parties, including the PTI, diligently reviewed numerous proposals to finalize the bill’s details.

After a short recess, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, addressed the assembly with an impassioned speech lasting over 50 minutes. He conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, acknowledging his instrumental efforts in facilitating the bill’s passage.

“Maulana Fazlur Rehman made unparalleled efforts to ensure the success of this bill. His contribution has been of historic significance, and I can proudly affirm that he played the most influential role,” Bilawal declared. He emphasized that the amendments had been achieved with complete political consensus.

Bilawal further extended his gratitude to several political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Independent Parliamentary Group (IPP), JUI-F, Awami National Party (ANP), and others for their collaborative spirit.

Notably, he also acknowledged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying, “I also thank the PTI for playing a part in this historic achievement. This is a political success, and I wish you wouldn’t have portrayed your own victory as a loss.”