House ratifies 19th Amend

27 amendments introduced in 6 Articles of Constitution

PM Gilani appreciates Reforms Committee hard work

Special Correspondent/ Agencies

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Wednesday passed the 19th constitutional amendment. The constitutional amendment was tabled in National Assembly after the bill was endorsed by the federal cabinet. The bill introduces 26 amendments in six Articles of the Constitution. The House clause-wise passed the constitutional amendment, which was later passed to enter as a part of the Constitution.

With the amendment, four senior judges of Supreme Court have been made members of the judicial commission instead of the two judges. The legislation also withdraws the powers of the Chief Justice with regard to appointment of the ad hoc judges in higher courts and handed over the same to the judicial commission.
The bill also proposes at least 15-year experience for the representative of a provincial bar that will represent the body in the Judicial Commission.
Earlier, Federal Cabinet unanimously approved the draft of 19th constitutional amendment bill in its meeting under the chair of Prime Minister Gilani and declared it a milestone in the history of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani presided over meeting in which chairman constitutional reforms committee Senator Raza Rabbani tabled the 19th amendment bill and briefed the attendees about the salient features of the bill.

The bill proposes amendments in six articles of the constitution. The amendment proposes 26 amendments in six articles of the Constitution.
The amendment proposes four judges in Judicial Commission instead of two judges. The legislation also proposes withdrawal of the powers of the Chief Justice with regard to appointment of the ad hoc judges in higher courts and handing over the same to the Judicial Commission. Addressing the Cabinet, PM Gilani said this is a major milestone in the history of Pakistan and other institutions will also be empowered. PM said the reforms made in the constitution by the dictators are invalidated by the democratic government and the constitution has been restored to 1973 constitution. None of the members of the cabinet opposed to the 19th amendment and unanimously accepted the bill. Members of the House congratulated Senator Raza Rabbani for his efforts regarding the bill. Many important issues were discussed in the cabinet meeting including government relations with JUI-F and MQM and JUI-F’s boycott as coalition partners.

Posted in: World News