19th amendment laid in Senate

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms Mian Raza Rabbani on Thursday laid 19th amendment bill as passed by the National Assembly in Senate for consideration.

While laying the bill in the House, he said that today is a historical day in the political history of Pakistan and parliament that another unanimous amendment bill is being laid in the House.

"This is a unique moment in this political history of the country that two very important constitutional bills are being presented unanimously in the House in 2010," he added.

He complimented the role members of constitutionals reforms committee and all political parties on 19th amendment bill.

He informed the House that some articles of 18th amendment were challenged in the Supreme Court and there were rumors that the political system of the country was going towards collision.

However, he said showing sagacity and maturity, the Supreme Court sent back the bill to parliament for review.

Rabbani while elaborating the 19th amendment bill said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan passed an order dated October 21 in various constitution petitions challenging certain amendments, including Article 175A, made in the constitution through the Constitution 18th amendment Act, 2010.

He said the apex court in its order made a reference to the parliament for reconsideration of the provisions of Articles 175A in the light of the observations made in the said order.

He said the committee went in Supreme Court's order in details on number of occasions and each reservation of Supreme Court was reconsidered.

He said the bill gives effect to certain amendments in the Constitution after giving consideration to the observations of the Supreme Court and matter incidental or ancillary there to or otherwise deemed necessary.

The fresh amendment seeks changes in a two-pronged mechanism for appointing judges in the superior courts in light of proposals forwarded to the parliament by the Supreme Court in its order.

The report by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) has increased the number of members in judicial commission formed for appointments under the 18th amendment, he added.

According to the 19th amendment, the judicial commission could not resend the nomination of a person who was once rejected by the parliamentary committee. But in case of rejection the parliamentary committee would have to give reasons.

He said the top political leadership has dispelled fears of confrontation among state institutions as the lower house of parliament prepared to amend the constitution for a second time in a year and this time in compliance with a Supreme Court order.