There is no deadlock, we have numbers in the Senate, says Federal Law Minister Azam Tarar
The approved draft of the 27th constitutional amendment, approved yesterday (Sunday) by the joint parliamentary committee, will be presented in the Senate today.
Currently, 64 votes are needed in the Senate to pass any constitutional amendment. The PPP has 26 seats, making it the most dominant party in government seats, while the PML-N has 20. Among the coalition partners, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has four members and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has three. Independent senators on the government side include Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, Mohsin Naqvi, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim and Faisal Vawda.
However, the ruling coalition lacks a two-thirds majority in the Senate. With 61 seats, it will need at least three votes from the opposition to ensure its approval.
In the opposition seats, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains the largest party, with 14 seats, and a newly elected senator is expected to be sworn in soon. The Awami National Party (ANP) has three seats, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has seven. The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) have one senator each.
“There is no deadlock; we have the numbers in the Senate,” Federal Justice Minister Azam Tarar told the media. ““Voting will begin as soon as all voters are present,” he added.
Once approved by the Senate, the bill will go to the National Assembly for voting, the procedure for which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today.
The National Assembly is made up of 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members rises to 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden figure” of 224 votes.
Read: PM hosts halwa party for senators after finalizing 27th Amendment
Currently, the ruling alliance has the support of 237 members of the National Assembly. The PML-N is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement with 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid with 5, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party with 4 and one member each from Pakistan Muslim League-Zia, Balochistan Awami Party and National Party. The government is also supported by four independent members.
The PPP, with 74 members, is the second largest party within the coalition. Your support has been crucial in helping the federal government achieve not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when necessary.
The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Sunday denounced the 27th Amendment as an “assault on the Constitution” and “Pakistan’s 9/11”, as the opposition alliance announced the launch of a nationwide protest campaign to resist “the direct attack on the foundations of the State”.
The alliance also announced plans to form committees to generate public opinion, involve trade organizations and consult with members of the legal fraternity. “The judicial system is being dismantled. Lawyers will play a key role in this movement,” he said.
The Joint Committee approves the amendment
The joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and the National Assembly unanimously approved the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, paving the way for its presentation in the Senate on Monday morning.
The federal government moved a major package of constitutional reforms to the upper house as the 27th Amendment Bill was formally introduced in the Senate, following approval by the federal cabinet on Saturday (yesterday). The bill seeks to introduce major structural changes to Pakistan’s military command framework and judicial system.
Read more: Joint parliamentary committee approves draft 27th Constitutional Amendment
Under the proposal, a new position titled Chief of Defense Forces would be created, effectively replacing the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The amendment outlines a revised chain of command by amending Article 243, which deals with the control and command of the armed forces.
The bill also proposes the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court with the mandate to resolve constitutional disputes and provide an authoritative interpretation of constitutional issues. For this purpose, a new separate chapter would be inserted in Part VII of the Constitution.
Furthermore, the amendment seeks notable changes in Article 175A, which currently regulates the appointment of judges of high courts. The proposed amendments aim to reshape the judicial appointments process in line with the new framework of the constitutional court.
Prime Minister withdraws immunity clause
Also read: Judiciary weighs response to 27th Amendment
In a post on “While I recognize your good faith intention, the proposal was not part of the draft approved by the Cabinet. I have ordered that it be withdrawn immediately,” he said.
Reaffirming his stance on accountability, the Prime Minister added that “an elected Prime Minister must remain fully accountable, both to the courts and to the people.”
The Federal Law Minister said that the committee members had been informed of the prime minister’s message, confirming that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had withdrawn the clause relating to the prime minister’s immunity.
