Islamabad-A critical session of the National Assembly and Senate will take place today to table and approve a constitutional amendment bill. The National Assembly session, initially scheduled for 11:30 am, has been delayed to 4 pm, while the Senate session will commence at 4 pm.
The bill aims to introduce significant changes to the judiciary, including:
– Raising the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 68 years
– Increasing the retirement age of high court judges from 62 to 65 years
– Modifying the procedure for appointing judges to the superior judiciary
– Merging the parliamentary committee on judiciary with the Judicial Commission
The ruling coalition requires a two-thirds majority (224 votes) in the National Assembly to pass the bill. Currently, they have the support of 213 legislators, still short of the required number. The government is seeking support from independent MNAs and JUI-F members to reach the magic number.
– Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N): 111 seats
– Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP): 69 seats
– Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM): 22 seats
– Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q): 5 seats
– Independent Power Professionals (IPP): 4 seats
– Balochistan Awami Party (BAP): 1 seat
– Awami National Party (ANP): 1 seat
– Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z): 1 seat
Total Government Coalition Seats: 214
In the Senate, the government needs 64 votes to pass the bill. They currently have the support of 55 members and require additional votes from JUI-F and independent senators.
The government has directed its senators to remain in Islamabad for the possible constitutional amendment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a meeting before the National Assembly session to seek cabinet approval for the constitutional amendment.
Earlier, the ruling coalition postponed the constitutional amendment bill due to the absence of two MNAs from the country. MNA-elect Makhdoom Tahir Rasheeduddin of PPP took oath in the National Assembly session held earlier.
