Parliament House Becomes Hub of Political Intrigue

Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal)-Government representatives and allies are engaged in intense discussions ahead of key legislation in the Senate and National Assembly. The “constitutional package” is a top priority, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Khursheed Shah, and Naveed Qamar leading the efforts.

A meeting with the speaker was held to discuss matters related to the package, followed by a meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to ensure his support. A special committee has also been mobilized to consult on the package.

However, the National Assembly session, scheduled to table the package, has been delayed to 10:00 pm on Sunday. The federal cabinet meeting, set for 3:00 pm, has not started yet, while the Senate session, expected to begin at 4:00 pm, is also likely to be delayed.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has directed its lawmakers to attend both sessions, with parliamentary leaders Khawaja Asif and Irfan Siddiqui issuing letters to ensure their presence.

Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly are set to vote today on a proposed constitutional package that would significantly alter the country’s judicial system. However, the National Assembly session has been delayed as the government struggles to muster the required numbers.

The government has been working to build consensus on the amendments, which aim to establish a constitutional court and revise Article 63-A of the constitution. The proposed changes also include extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 68 years and High Court judges from 62 to 65 years. Additionally, the Chief Justice’s tenure would be extended by three years, and the appointment process for judges would be revised.

The National Assembly session, initially scheduled for earlier today, has been delayed to 4:00 PM. The Senate session is set to convene at 7:00 PM. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a Federal Cabinet meeting earlier today to approve the draft amendments, which was rescheduled from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

The government needs a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly (224 votes) and a majority in the Senate (64 votes) to pass the amendments. Currently, the government holds 211 seats in the National Assembly and 54 in the Senate. The government’s support base includes members from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and others.

However, the opposition, comprising members from the Sunni Ittehad Council, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and others, holds 101 seats in the National Assembly. The government needs the support of an additional 13 members to secure the necessary votes. Even with the support of the JUI-F’s 8 members, the government would still need 5 more votes.

The outcome of today’s vote will significantly impact Pakistan’s judicial system. The government’s efforts to build consensus and muster the required numbers will be crucial in determining the fate of the constitutional package.

The role of JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman is crucial in approving the package. To secure his support, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi met with him.

Key points:

– Intense discussions among government representatives and allies on the “constitutional package”
– Meetings held with the speaker, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman
– National Assembly session delayed to 10:00 pm on Sunday
– Federal cabinet meeting and Senate session also likely to be delayed
– PML-N directs lawmakers to attend both sessions
– JUI-F supremo’s support crucial for package approval