Govt Set to Approve 22 Constitutional Amendments

The federal government is on the verge of approving a comprehensive package of constitutional amendments through the National Assembly and Senate, with over 22 amendments expected to be introduced.

According to reports, the NA session summoned for 3 PM has further been delayed to 10 PM today as the government moves to confirm their numbers are intact for the introduction of constitutional amendments.

Key changes are being proposed to sections 63, 51, 175, and 187 of the constitution. One major development includes amendments related to the judiciary, with a meeting of the Judicial Commission and the Parliamentary Committee set to discuss the appointment of judges for the Supreme Court and High Courts.

Balochistan’s representation in the National Assembly is also poised to increase. The government is considering a proposal to raise the number of seats in the Balochistan Assembly from 65 to 81. Furthermore, an amendment to Article 63 of the Constitution is under consideration, particularly addressing the issue of dissenting members’ votes.

Another key proposal involves the establishment of a Constitutional Court, which will handle appeals related to constitutional matters. Once established, this court will exclusively hear cases concerning Articles 184, 185, and 186 of the Constitution. The government will also be responsible for appointing the remaining four judges to the Constitutional Court.

There are additional proposed amendments, including the transfer of High Court judges to other provinces and the appointment of the Chief Justice of Pakistan from the five most senior judges of the Supreme Court. Article 181 is also expected to undergo revisions.