Following its passage in the lower house, the bill will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration and approval.
During the session, Speaker of the National Assembly invited members to stand in support of the motion. The amendment was approved with 234 votes in favour and four against, backed by government and allied lawmakers.
Concluding the debate, Law Minister Tarar described the constitutional reform as an “evolutionary process” developed through extensive consultation with bar councils and associations across the country. He said the Senate’s joint committee had already endorsed the amendment with a two-thirds majority.
The minister explained that the amendment aims to clarify matters relating to the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and that Justice Yahya Afridi will continue in the role. Minor changes were also made to Article 6, which now includes a reference to a constitutional court.
A Senate session has been called for 5 p.m. today to take up the bill.
According to official sources, the government has also incorporated several opposition-proposed amendments into the bill. Additional revisions to Article 6 (Clause 2A) relate to acts of treason, ensuring that such actions cannot be validated by any court, including the proposed Federal Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, or the High Courts.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the amendment also restores the use of “Pakistan” in the titles of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice, addressing public criticism over earlier omissions.
