ISLAMABAD (Web Desk)- President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which has been passed by both houses.
After this amendment, the bill has now become part of the Constitution.
Earlier, Upper House of the Parliament – the Senate – also approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill on Thursday after voting on it for a second time amid pandemonium created by the opposition parties.The Senators present in the House first voted on the bill clause by clause and then by division.
Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani announcing the result said 64 votes had been cast in favour of the bill and four against it. “So, the motion is carried by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate, and consequently, the bill stands passed,” he declared.
While clause-by-clause voting was under way, slogans of “destruction of the Constitution, unacceptable” were chanted by the Opposition parties.
The PTI, the National Party (NP) and the JUI-F opposed the bill. PTI senators did not participate in voting and walked out of the House instead.
They resorted to sloganeering, tore the copies of the agenda, and held a sit-in in front of the chairman’s dais.
Deputy PM Dar thanks senators
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said he was grateful to the senators who had voted in favour of the legislation.
He said that until and unless the PTI lawmakers Senator Saifullah Abro and Ahmad Khan, who had voted in favour of the bill did not submit their resignations in writing, mere announcements were not enough. “They will continue to be the members of the House until and unless they are de-notified.”
Dar said that today was a historic day since the senators had voted in accordance with their conscience.
The dissolution of the assembly during the PTI government was unconstitutional. “The PTI has perhaps forgotten that the assembly was dissolved in a rush.”
He said that the 18th Amendment was a good legislation. “Four articles have been deleted, while four have been added in the present legislation.”
Two divisions were formed for those voting in favour and against the bill.
He said it is a historic day as the process of 27th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan has been completed in accordance with law and the Constitution.
Law minister on MPs voting against party lines
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that in light of the constitution, a member of the parliament (MP) voting against party lines did not automatically become disqualified. “Firstly, the party summons that member and listens to his point of view,” he added.
Briefing the House about the salient features and amendments made in the Bill, the minister said the position of Chief of Justice of Pakistan has been clearly defined.
He explained that the incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan will continue to hold his office. Afterwards, among the Chief Justice of Supreme Court and Chief Justice of Federal Constitutional Court, the one who will be senior will be the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The minister said word ‘Federal Constitutional Court’ has been inserted in clause 2 (A) of Article 6 which states that no act of high treason shall be validated by any court of the country.
Earlier, the new draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was again tabled in the Senate for approval by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday.
