Islamabad (The Thursday Times) — President Asif Ali Zardari has officially signed the 26th Constitutional Amendment into law, following which the National Assembly Secretariat issued the gazette notification. With this, the constitutional amendment is now enacted as law.
After President Zardari signed the 26th Amendment, the National Assembly Secretariat promptly released the official notification. The amendment, which was passed by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the National Assembly, is now fully effective as part of the Constitution.
Earlier in the day, the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority. The important session was chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, beginning with the recitation of the Quran and the national anthem of Pakistan. During the session, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill, which had already been approved by the Senate.
Federal Minister of Law Azam Nazeer Tarar opened the floor for debate on the proposed amendment, followed by speeches from key leaders, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Opposition Leader Umar Ayub Khan, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, MQM Pakistan’s Farooq Sattar, and PTI leader Barrister Gohar.
The government needed 224 votes in the National Assembly to pass the 26th Amendment, but the motion received 225 votes in favor, with only 12 votes against, securing the required two-thirds majority.
After a series of clause-by-clause approvals, all provisions from the second to the twenty-seventh were passed without opposition, following a walkout by certain opposition parties, including the Sunni Ittehad Council and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The first clause had also passed with 225 votes, while 12 members voted against it.
Following the vote, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced that the 26th Amendment had passed with 225 votes in favor and 12 against, making it law. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Assembly, calling it a historic day and praising the unity displayed by all parties. He highlighted that the passage of the amendment symbolized national consensus and restored the supremacy of Parliament.
Prime Minister Sharif also reflected on past political crises, asserting that with this amendment, no prime minister could be ousted from office in the future through non-parliamentary means.
Before adjourning the session until October 22, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed his gratitude to all members for their cooperation.
The Senate had previously passed the 26th Amendment with a two-thirds majority. Chaired by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani, the session saw Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar move a motion to suspend routine proceedings, allowing the Law Minister to introduce the bill.
The Senate approved the amendment with overwhelming support. Out of 104 senators, 65 voted in favor of the first clause, while only 4 opposed. The remaining provisions were also passed with a two-thirds majority.
After the vote, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the day marked the fulfillment of the Charter of Democracy’s agenda and congratulated all leaders involved in the constitutional process.
The 26th Amendment is seen as a milestone in Pakistan’s political and legislative history, ensuring that future prime ministers cannot be removed by extrajudicial measures.