After the Senate passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 with a two-thirds majority on Sunday evening, the National Assembly also passed the heavily contested bill with a two-thirds majority in a late-night session.
The government needed to secure 224 votes to go over the line, and it managed to secure 225 votes as some opposition members staged a walkout.
NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq began the voting process after giving the floor to parliamentary leaders of various political parties. The bill was presented in the National Assembly by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during a session that commenced late Sunday night and extended into the early hours of Monday morning.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the amendment represents not just a legal change, but a symbol of unity and consensus.
“This is more than an amendment; it is a reaffirmation of solidarity and agreement across political lines,” he noted.
Reflecting on the past, PM Shehbaz criticized what he termed “palace conspiracies” that led to the dismissal of governments and prime ministers.
