NA session postponed to 9:30 pm

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) session, initially set for earlier on Saturday, was postponed yet again to 9:30 pm, coinciding with the final stages of drafting the proposed 26th constitutional amendment.

The controversial changes focus on a huge overhaul of the country’s judiciary, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government unable to form a clear majority to pass the bill earlier.

Meanwhile, the Opposition, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly opposed the amendments.

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However, PML-N member and the Minister for Information, Atta Tarar, confidently stated on Saturday that the government now possessed a clear majority to pass the proposed bill.

“Our numbers are complete, and we are now making sure all stakeholders are on board to avoid any political deadlock”, he said.

The proposed amendments include the establishment of a five- or nine-member constitutional bench within the Supreme Court, while no such benches would be formed on the provincial level.

The Judicial Commission would be tasked with constituting the bench, including the appointment of its head, thereby limiting the chief justice’s authority.

A key feature of the proposed constitutional changes is the introduction of a fixed term for the constitutional bench’s appointments, with the government claiming it will improve the ‘stability’ within the judiciary.

Another key proposal is the removal of the Supreme Court’s power to take suo motu notice, a contentious issue that has drawn criticism from several quarters. The amendment also suggests that the CJ be appointed from among the three most senior judge.

The proposed bill seeks to amend the process for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner, stipulating that if the prime minister and the leader of the opposition cannot reach a consensus, the parliamentary committee will make the appointment.

The proposed amendment also aims to fully restore the 18th constitutional amendment while abolishing the 19th.

Many have critcised the amendments as undermining the judiciary’s authority and attempting to influence it from the legislative branch.

Read more: Constitutional package: Our numbers are complete, claims Atta Tarar

If passed, the proposed bill could set a precedent for future legislative efforts and holds huge implications for the future of judiciary and governance in the politically fragile country.