The Sindh Assembly on Monday approved a resolution required as prerequisite for forming a constitutional bench in the province in light of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Approved by 123 MPAs of the PPP and MQM-Pakistan, the resolution was opposed by 4 MPAs—three of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and one of the Jamaat-e-Islami. Addressing the House after the adoption of the resolution, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government would approach the federal government to expedite constitutional benches in the province.
Under Article 202A of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, a resolution passed with a simple majority is necessary for the constitution of benches in any province. The amendment states that a senior judge among the nominated judges of the high court would head the constitutional bench.
According to Shah, the 26th constitutional amendment was adopted in light of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s efforts. “The PTI also agreed to the draft, but one person did not agree,” he said, referring to the opposition party’s discussions with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) and PTI founder Imran Khan’s refusal to support the legislation.
The chief minister said it was a matter of honor for Sindh to become the first province to adopt a resolution in favor of the 26th constitutional amendment. “We want the benefits of the 26th constitutional amendment to be given to the people as soon as possible,” he said.
Shah clarified that the provincial government had waited to adopt the resolution until the formation of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to seek constitutional benches. The first meeting of the reconstituted JCP takes place today (Tuesday).