After Pakistan passed the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment bill on Monday (October 21) questions are being raised on the independence of Judiciary both by local and international watchdogs.

Pakistan Passes 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill Amid Judicial Independence Concerns

The Pakistan Senate has approved the 26th constitution amendment bill in favor with two- third of the majority. The Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif termed it as a historic day for the nation after the bill was passed. The motion was carried with a two-third majority. Watch to know more.

Pakistan Passes 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill

Pakistan Passes 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill With Clear Majority

Pakistan National Assembly Passes 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill

<p>The controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment was approved by the Cabinet and passed by the Senate in Pakistan on Sunday (Oct 20). The cabinet gave its nod&nbsp;in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and it was then tabled in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The government will also be tabling the bill in the National Assembly on Sunday (Oct 20).</p>

<p>"The federal cabinet has approved the proposed draft of the 26th constitutional amendment of the government and its coalition parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)," the Prime Minister’s Office was quoted as saying by Dawn News.</p>

<p>As per the statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the cabinet approved the bill “in the wider interest of the country while adhering to the oath of national development and public welfare.”</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/view-from-delhi-no-talks-with-pakistan-yet-the-old-cycle-wont-continue-768460">View from Delhi: No talks with Pakistan yet, the old cycle won't continue</a></p>

<p>PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that their party had “no objections” to the bill's final draft, however, they will abstain from voting on it when it is tabled in the parliament.</p>

<h2><strong>Here are the key proposed changes in the bill&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<h3><strong>Appointment of Chief Justice</strong></h3>

<p>A special parliamentary committee will appoint the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from three senior-most Supreme Court judges. The name of nominee will be sent to prime minister who will then send it to the president for appointment.</p>

<h3><strong>12-member parliamentary panel for judicial appointments&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<p>The parliamentary panel will have 12 members, out of which eight will be from the National Assembly and four will be included from the Senate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The representation of the party will be proportional to their strength in parliament. The nomination of the new Chief Justice will have to be made at least 14 days before the retirement of the incumbent. However, the first nomination will be made three days before the CJP’s retirement.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Powers of the Parliamentary panel</strong></h3>

<p>The parliamentary panel will have the power to create rules which include criteria and procedures to assess the fitness of judges.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch Here:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-cabinet-okays-constitutional-change-bill-769227/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Chief Justice will no longer be able to appoint a substitute for a high court chief justice in case of their unavailability. These powers will now lie with the parliamentary commission.</p>

<h3><strong>Rules for the commission to appoint judges&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<p>The commission, which will have the responsibility of appointing judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court, will be required to include members who have practiced as senior lawyer for at least 15 years in the Supreme Court.</p>

<h3><strong>Term of Chief Justice&nbsp;</strong></h3>

<p>The term of CJP has been set for three years or till resignation, removal or reaching the age of 65, whichever happens first. After three years, the chief justice will have to retire, regardless of the age.</p>

<h3><strong>Top court's reduced suo motu jurisdiction</strong></h3>

<p>The suo motu jurisdiction of the Supreme Court will be restricted to only those applications filed under the relevant clause.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment was approved by the Cabinet and passed by the Senate in Pakistan on Sunday (Oct 20). The cabinet gave its nod in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and it was then tabled in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.

The controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment was approved by the Cabinet and passed by the Senate in Pakistan on Sunday (Oct 20). The cabinet gave its nod in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and it was then tabled in the Senate by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The government will also be tabling the bill in the National Assembly on Sunday (Oct 20). "The federal cabinet has approved the proposed draft of the 26th constitutional amendment of the government and its coalition parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)," the Prime Minister’s Office was quoted as saying by Dawn News. As per the statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the cabinet approved the bill “in the wider interest of the country while adhering to the oath of national development and public welfare.” Also Read: View from Delhi: No talks with Pakistan yet, the old cycle won't continue PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that their party had “no objections” to the bill's final draft, however, they will abstain from voting on it when it is tabled in the parliament. Here are the key proposed changes in the bill Appointment of Chief Justice A special parliamentary committee will appoint the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from three senior-most Supreme Court judges. The name of nominee will be sent to prime minister who will then send it to the president for appointment. 12-member parliamentary panel for judicial appointments The parliamentary panel will have 12 members, out of which eight will be from the National Assembly and four will be included from the Senate. The representation of the party will be proportional to their strength in parliament. The nomination of the new Chief Justice will have to be made at least 14 days before the retirement of the incumbent. However, the first nomination will be made three days before the CJP’s retirement. Powers of the Parliamentary panel The parliamentary panel will have the power to create rules which include criteria and procedures to assess the fitness of judges. Watch Here: The Chief Justice will no longer be able to appoint a substitute for a high court chief justice in case of their unavailability. These powers will now lie with the parliamentary commission. Rules for the commission to appoint judges The commission, which will have the responsibility of appointing judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court, will be required to include members who have practiced as senior lawyer for at least 15 years in the Supreme Court. Term of Chief Justice The term of CJP has been set for three years or till resignation, removal or reaching the age of 65, whichever happens first. After three years, the chief justice will have to retire, regardless of the age. Top court's reduced suo motu jurisdiction The suo motu jurisdiction of the Supreme Court will be restricted to only those applications filed under the relevant clause. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: Cabinet, Senate approve controversial constitutional amendment bill. Here's what it proposes

<p>Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain today signed a landmark constitutional amendment bill to merge restive tribal region along the Afghan border with the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, bringing an end to the 150-year-old British-era arrangement.</p>

<p>The bill was passed by the National Assembly, the Senate and KP Assembly before being sent to the president for formal approval.</p>

<p>After signing the bill, the president congratulated the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Geo TV reported.</p>

<p>The bill amends several Articles of the Constitution including Article 1 that defines the territory of Pakistani federation.</p>

<p>The law was signed on the last day of the present government as its five-year tenure will end at midnight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Hussain congratulated the people of FATA and said the merger would open up an era of prosperity and development for its people and help them progress in all spheres of life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said the nation needed to work together to fully benefit from this historic opportunity.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who played a key role in bringing consensus to pass the amendment in the National Assembly had said that it will "change the 150-year-old system in the tribal areas."<br />
<br />
The Head of the FATA Reforms Committee Sartaj Aziz said following the constitutional amendment the people of the federally administered tribal areas were now mainstreamed and would enjoy equal rights like other citizens of the country.</p>

<p>He said all the agencies of FATA would now convert into districts and the assistant political agents would now serve as deputy commissioners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said Rs 1 trillion would be spent on the development of the area over a period of next ten years. Of the total amount, 25 per cent would be spent through the local bodies for the development of infrastructure in health, education, roads, communications and other projects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The amendment abolished more than century old and the draconian law called Frontiers Crimes Regulation which prescribed collective responsibility of family and tribe for crimes committed by a single individual.</p>

<p>The semi-autonomous tribal region was created by British colonizer as a buffer zone to avoid direct conflict with Afghanistan.</p>

<p>It consists of seven districts - Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, Orakzai and South Waziristan - which stretch along the border with Afghanistan, and became known in the world due to the presence of militants who fled the porous border after US forces invaded Afghanistan post-9/11.</p>

<p>These seven districts are home to some eight million residents, mainly ethnic Pashtuns.</p>

<p>Pakistan forces launched repeated military operation to clear the area of rebels and dismantle their hideouts which were used to launch attack in the country and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The bill was passed by the National Assembly, the Senate and KP Assembly before being sent to the president for formal approval.

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain today signed a landmark constitutional amendment bill to merge restive tribal region along the Afghan border with the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, bringing an end to the 150-year-old British-era arrangement. The bill was passed by the National Assembly, the Senate and KP Assembly before being sent to the president for formal approval. After signing the bill, the president congratulated the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Geo TV reported. The bill amends several Articles of the Constitution including Article 1 that defines the territory of Pakistani federation. The law was signed on the last day of the present government as its five-year tenure will end at midnight. President Hussain congratulated the people of FATA and said the merger would open up an era of prosperity and development for its people and help them progress in all spheres of life. He said the nation needed to work together to fully benefit from this historic opportunity. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who played a key role in bringing consensus to pass the amendment in the National Assembly had said that it will "change the 150-year-old system in the tribal areas." The Head of the FATA Reforms Committee Sartaj Aziz said following the constitutional amendment the people of the federally administered tribal areas were now mainstreamed and would enjoy equal rights like other citizens of the country. He said all the agencies of FATA would now convert into districts and the assistant political agents would now serve as deputy commissioners. He said Rs 1 trillion would be spent on the development of the area over a period of next ten years. Of the total amount, 25 per cent would be spent through the local bodies for the development of infrastructure in health, education, roads, communications and other projects. The amendment abolished more than century old and the draconian law called Frontiers Crimes Regulation which prescribed collective responsibility of family and tribe for crimes committed by a single individual. The semi-autonomous tribal region was created by British colonizer as a buffer zone to avoid direct conflict with Afghanistan. It consists of seven districts - Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, North Waziristan, Orakzai and South Waziristan - which stretch along the border with Afghanistan, and became known in the world due to the presence of militants who fled the porous border after US forces invaded Afghanistan post-9/11. These seven districts are home to some eight million residents, mainly ethnic Pashtuns. Pakistan forces launched repeated military operation to clear the area of rebels and dismantle their hideouts which were used to launch attack in the country and Afghanistan.

Pakistan's tribal areas merges with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after constitutional amendment bill