President Zardari Signs 26th Constitutional Amendment into Law

Islamabad — In a significant move, President Asif Ali Zardari has officially signed the 26th constitutional amendment bill into law, following advice from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The amendment, which received a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, will now become part of Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution.

The amendment establishes a three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan and outlines a new selection process for the position. A 12-member parliamentary committee will be responsible for nominating the new Chief Justice from a panel of the three most senior judges. This committee will consist of eight members from the National Assembly and four from the Senate.

Once the committee proposes a name, it will be sent to the Prime Minister, who will forward the recommendation to the President for final approval.

In addition, the amendment details the composition of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, which will oversee appointments of Supreme Court judges. This commission will be chaired by the Chief Justice and include three senior judges, two members from both the National Assembly and Senate, the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, the Attorney General, and a nominee from the Pakistan Bar Council with at least fifteen years of practice in the Supreme Court.

The gazette notification confirming the constitutional amendment has already been issued, solidifying its place in Pakistan’s legal framework.