Major Legislative Developments in Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate in 2024
Islamabad:The **16th National Assembly** of Pakistan was formed after the **general elections on February 8, 2024**, and the completion of Senate elections in March. The first session of the National Assembly was held on **February 29, 2024**, with a total of **11 sessions** held during the year.
### Key Legislative Actions:
1. **26th Constitutional Amendment**:
One of the most significant legislative achievements of the year was the passage of the **26th Constitutional Amendment**, which received considerable support from the ruling government, allied parties, and even some opposition members, including **Maulana Fazlur Rehman**. The amendment proposed the complete elimination of **interest (usury)** from Pakistan by January **2028**, in line with a proposal by the **Jamaat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI)**.
Additionally, the amendment made changes to **Article 175-A**, which governs the **appointment of judges** in the **Supreme Court** and other high courts. According to the amendment, the **Supreme Judicial Commission** will now include **4 senior Supreme Court judges** and an equal number of **parliamentarians** alongside the **Chief Justice**. The process of **appointing the Chief Justice** has also been altered, with **3 names** being recommended to a **parliamentary committee** from which one will be selected. Furthermore, the tenure of the **Chief Justice of Pakistan** was reduced to **3 years**, and reforms were introduced to curtail the **Suomotu powers** of the Supreme Court.
2. **Tax Laws Amendment Bill**:
On **April 29**, the National Assembly passed the **Tax Laws Amendment Bill**, aimed at improving the tax system in Pakistan and increasing the number of individuals within the tax net. The bill imposed significant restrictions on **non-filers** and introduced stricter penalties for shopkeepers, industrialists, and traders who failed to pay **sales tax**.
3. **Election Act Amendment Bill**:
On **August 6**, amidst strong protests and disruptions from the opposition, the **Election Act Amendment Bill** was passed. This bill was crucial as it addressed the allocation of **reserved seats** in the **National Assembly** for the **Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)** party. Among its key provisions, the bill specified that an independent candidate would be considered free if they failed to submit a party certificate and declared that once a candidate joined a political party, they could not switch affiliations. It also stipulated that political parties would lose their **reserved seats** quota if they failed to submit the list of candidates within **3 days**.
4. **Military Leadership Tenure Extension**:
On **November 5**, the National Assembly passed a bill extending the tenure of military chiefs, including the **Chief of Army Staff (COAS)**, from **3 years** to **5 years**. Alongside this, a bill was passed increasing the number of **Supreme Court judges** from **17 to 34** and **High Court judges** from **9 to 12**.
### Challenges and Future Outlook:
Despite these significant legislative milestones, the year witnessed ongoing political tensions, especially with regards to **opposition protests** and the passage of controversial bills. As the National Assembly and Senate continue to push for constitutional and electoral reforms, the political landscape remains dynamic with debates around judicial independence, military influence, and tax reforms.
As 2024 draws to a close, the legislative focus will likely shift towards **implementing these reforms** and ensuring their effectiveness in shaping Pakistan’s governance and institutional structures.
