Constitutional Milestone Signed into Law
President Asif Ali Zardari has signed a significant bill. The 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 is now an Act of Parliament. The gazette notification was issued immediately in Islamabad. This new constitutional amendment takes effect at once. The law changes the procedure for top judicial appointments. This constitutional milestone sets the stage for major decisions.
New Rules for Judicial Selection
The amendment introduces crucial new timelines. The new law mandates an earlier appointment process. The outgoing Chief Justice must send names much sooner. Specifically, the CJP must send three names earlier than before. The three senior-most judges must be named to the committee. The deadline was set for midnight on October 22. This new requirement accelerates the selection of the CJP.
The Search for the Next Chief Justice
The decision to appoint a new Chief Justice is imminent now. The current CJP, Qazi Faiz Isa, must submit the required names. The three most senior judges are already known. They are Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar. Justice Yahya Afridi is the third senior judge. The Ministry of Law is preparing their official summary. This summary will be sent to the Parliamentary Committee today. This panel will select the new CJP from these names.
Crucial Parliamentary Committee Convenes
A special committee will make the final selection. An in-camera meeting is scheduled for 4 pm today. The crucial meeting will take place at the Parliament House. The committee comprises twelve selected members. They represent Pakistan’s major political parties. This body holds the sole power of final selection. The Pakistan 26th Amendment CJP appointment hinges on this meeting.
Formula for Proportional Representation
The committee’s formation followed a strict formula. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq initiated the process. He sent letters to various parliamentary leaders earlier. The process used proportional representation carefully. One seat was allotted for every 39 NA members. One Senate seat was allotted for every 21 members.
Political Consensus on the Panel
The committee reflects wide political representation. Senate members include Azam Nazir Tarar of PML-N. Farooq Naik represents the People’s Party effectively. Barrister Ali Zafar is included from PTI. Kamran Murtaza represents JUI in the panel. National Assembly members include Khawaja Asif of PML-N. Raja Pervez Ashraf represents the People’s Party too. Barrister Gohar is included from the PTI bloc. This political consensus is vital for the new CJP. The new process elevates the role of Parliament significantly.