The Federal Cabinet has approved the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Parliament House. Prior to the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister held discussions with President Asif Ali Zardari, during which the proposed amendment was reviewed and agreed upon.
Following the meeting, Federal Minister Musadik Malik confirmed that the government had finalized its draft in collaboration with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the government, and coalition partners. The cabinet has now formally endorsed the draft.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman assured the government of his party’s support for the bill, ending the previous deadlock. He directed his senators to fully back the amendment in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
After Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized that, regardless of the PTI’s stance, their goal was to pass the amendment on the day. He expressed his gratitude to Fazlur Rehman for his critical support, noting the historical importance of his role in securing the passage of the amendment.
In preparation for the session, strict security measures were implemented, and guest entry was restricted, allowing only media representatives with full-session press gallery cards to enter the Parliament House. The National Assembly’s 9-point agenda for the session was released, with voting on the amendment already underway in the Senate.
Despite the progress, the PTI decided to boycott the voting process in both the National Assembly and Senate, a decision that was announced following a meeting of the party’s political committee.
Earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed that suggestions from Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been incorporated into the final draft of the amendment.
