The process for representation in the parliamentary committee for judges’ appointments has been altered following the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

A special parliamentary committee will be formed under Article 175A (appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, high courts and the Federal Shariat Court), Clause 3A, subclauses 1 and 2.

The representation in the committee would not be equal between the government and the opposition; instead, it would be based on proportional representation.

“The government and the opposition will have proportional representation. This committee will give a name with a two-thirds majority to the PM. Then the CJP will be appointed,” Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told reporters on Sunday after the cabinet approved the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill.

The committee will include representatives from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Sunni Ittehad Council, MQM, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl. Notably, no member from any party will be excluded from the parliamentary committee.

The government wanted to revisit the seniority principle, according to the law minister. “I said that Parliament thinks judges appointment should be as per their evaluation and Parliament’s role should be revisited,” Tarar said.

According to sources, the ruling party, PML-N, will have a majority in the parliamentary committee, with three members from the National Assembly and one member from the Senate participating in the committee’s discussions.

The PPP is set to propose the inclusion of two members from the National Assembly and one from the Senate in the parliamentary committee for judges’ appointments.

Moreover, the Sunni Ittehad Council will also have two members from the National Assembly and one from the Senate included in the committee.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan will be represented by one member from the NA while the JUI-F will have one member representing them from the Senate.