• PPP lawmakers praise Bilawal for spearheading amendment
• Murad says constitutional benches will also be formed in provinces
• MQM-P calls for implementing other provisions of CoD
• Bhutto’s Constitution was trampled by rulers for their own interests, says PTI
• JI terms amendment a conspiracy against judicial system

KARACHI: Amid strong protest put up by members of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Jamaat-i-Islami, the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday passed with a majority vote a resolution acknowledging efforts of Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and all other political stakeholders for the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who tabled the resolution in the house, said the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment was the result of tireless efforts of the PPP chairman adding that it was a continuation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

The resolution recognised that the 26th Constitutional Amendment was a “much needed step towards establishment of equality among provinces and providing judicial relief to people of Pakistan”.

It acknowledged relentless efforts of the PPP chairman in ensuring the passage of the amendment and appreciated that by doing so he had maintained the supremacy of the Constitution “as envisioned by his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto”.

The house resolved that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had fulfilled the vision of his mother Benazir Bhutto as enshrined in the Charter of Democracy.

“The house believes that the 26th amendment is a landmark achievement empowering the provinces after the 18th Constitutional Amendment spearheaded by President Asif Ali Zardari and appreciates all political forces that come together to achieve consensus and passed this historical amendment,” the resolution concluded.

Speaking on the resolution, the chief minister said that the people would get quick justice and the judiciary would be able to work independently after the passage of the constitutional amendment, adding that earlier judges used to spend more time in cases that made headlines in media.

He said that the 26th Amendment had now become part of the Constitution and it would ensure equality among the provinces.

He said that the benches of constitutional courts would also be formed in the provinces and no litigant would have to wait for years for disposal of their cases. “With the new amendment, litigants will get justice promptly,” he added.

The CM said that Mr Bhutto-Zardari had expressed his determination that the 26th Amendment should be passed and he also convinced the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Mr Shah claimed that the 26th Amendment was actually passed by the parliament unanimously as the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had stated that the consensus on it had developed among all political parties.

He said the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council lawmakers wanted to vote, but they didn’t as their leader “forbade” them to vote who did not like this amendment. Fully supporting and welcoming the resolution, Leader of Opposition Ali Khurshidi said that the amendment was the result of inclusive politics.

He said all political parties had a positive role in the passage of the amendment. “The new constitutional amendment will strengthen democracy and parliament,” he added.

The opposition leaders, however, said that there were many other things written in the CoD, including the chairmanship of Public Account Committees of the assemblies by the opposition leaders. He said that other provisions of the Charter of Democracy should also be implemented.

The lone JI’s member in the assembly Muhammad Farooq rejected the resolution saying that it could not be adopted unanimously as the 26th Amendment had also not been passed unanimously.

He said that process of appointment of the Chief Justice of Pakistan was very important, but the 26th Amendment had politicised the whole process.

The JI member termed the 26th Amendment a conspiracy against the country’s judicial system and said that his party had rejected all provisions of the new amendment.

Rejecting the 26th Amendment, Parliamentary Leader of the PTI-backed SIC Shabbir Qureshi said that the constitution given by late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was trampled over by the rulers for their own interests.

He said that majority of people was still with the party founder.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the democracy was killed by the judiciary in the past as a few judges had removed elected prime ministers.

He said that the JI and the PTI had supported dictators General Ziaul Haq and General Pervais Musharraf.

“They were ready to give life extension to General Bajwa to remain in power,” he said and added that former CJP Saqib Nisar’s unconstitutional actions were supported by Imran Khan.

The house adopted the resolution with a majority vote.

The house also unanimously adopted a resolution paying rich tributes to Nusrat Bhutto on her death anniversary.

Later, the house was adjourned to Thursday.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2024