In today’s session, the National Assembly will discuss and present a series of major constitutional amendments, including a proposal to increase the number of seats for Balochistan in the provincial assembly.
The proposed amendments encompass over 20 clauses that will impact several key articles of Pakistan’s Constitution, including Articles 51, 63, 175, and 187.
A key change involves boosting Balochistan’s representation by increasing its provincial assembly seats from 65 to 81. This aims to provide the province with enhanced legislative representation.
Article 63, which addresses the disqualification of Parliament members, will also see substantial modifications, including new provisions related to the voting behavior of defecting assembly members.
Significant revisions are also planned for Article 181, introducing broader judicial reforms. Among these, the Chief Justice of Pakistan will no longer have their tenure extended, and judges from the Islamabad High Court may be reassigned to other provincial High Courts.
Additionally, the appointment process for the Chief Justice will shift to a panel of the five most senior Supreme Court judges, replacing the current system where the senior-most judge automatically assumes the position. The remaining four judges of the Constitutional Court will be appointed by the government, indicating a change in the judicial appointment process.
The Constitutional Court will also be designated to handle cases related to constitutional matters under Articles 184, 185, and 186.
To streamline the judicial appointment process for the Supreme Court and High Courts, the government will consolidate the Judicial Commission and the Parliamentary Committee, aiming for a more efficient selection procedure.
