ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly passed the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Bill tonight [Nov 14] by 102 votes, which was more than two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment. The passage without a negative vote came after a two-day debate and a winding up speech by the Prime Minister ... Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The Bill … provided for among other things: (1) Division of the first schedule of the Constitution into two parts… . (2) Reservation of six seats in the [NA] for minority communities. (3) Inclusion of a maximum of two days for which the [NA] may be adjourned in a week in the definition of working days. (4) Increase in the number of reserved seats for minority communities in the Punjab Provincial Assembly from three to five. (5) Clarification of the scope of Article 199, which relates to the jurisdiction of High Courts. (6) Representation of the minority communities in the existing [NA] and Provincial Assemblies… . The Opposition was not present when voting on the Bill took place. [Meanwhile, PM Bhutto] urged the Opposition to ... reciprocate the Government’s spirit of accommodation.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025