Struggle for Constitutional Amendment Support in Parliament
On September 15, the government of Pakistan worked intensively to gather the necessary support for a controversial constitutional amendment that includes setting the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) at three years. Despite extensive political activity over the weekend, Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the ruling PML-N announced that the bill would not be tabled in either house of Parliament due to a lack of assured votes. This decision comes amid ongoing negotiations with coalition partners and opposition parties to reach the required majority. For further details, visit our Pakistan News section.
What Unfolded on September 15: Political Activity and Number Games
On the morning of September 15, both the Senate and National Assembly (NA) sessions were scheduled to convene at 12:30 PM. However, the Senate session was postponed indefinitely, and the NA session was delayed, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the proposed constitutional amendment support. The legislation requires approval from the federal cabinet before it can be presented in Parliament.
Over the weekend, the government engaged in hectic negotiations to secure the necessary numbers. Much of the political activity centered around the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the influential leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), whose support is considered crucial for achieving the required majority in the Senate. For context, read Dawn’s analysis.
Efforts to Secure JUI-F’s Support
On September 15, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s residence saw both government and opposition leaders trying to win his backing. The government delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, met with Maulana Fazl. Later, an opposition delegation led by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also met with him around 6 PM, even joining him for evening prayers. PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui described Maulana Fazl as “very flexible” but said he needed more time to review the proposed amendments. The government’s hopes for securing the numbers largely depend on gaining Fazl’s support, who holds five critical Senate seats. Learn more from Express Tribune’s report.
Current Numbers and Political Calculations
In the Senate, the ruling coalition has 52 confirmed votes, including support from PPP (24), PML-N (19), BAP (4), MQM-P (3), and one each from PML-Q and the National Party. With the potential backing of the Awami National Party (ANP) and four independent senators, the government could achieve the required 64 votes in the incomplete house of 85 senators.
However, in the National Assembly, the situation remains challenging. The coalition holds 213 seats, excluding 20 disputed reserved seats, while the opposition has 99 in an incomplete house of 312. Even with JUI-F’s eight seats, the government falls three votes short of the 224 needed to pass the amendment. Further discussions and negotiations are likely in the coming days as the government seeks to secure the necessary support. Explore more in Geo News’ coverage.
Offers to Win JUI-F’s Favor
Although details remain confidential, sources indicate that both the government and the opposition made multiple offers to JUI-F to secure their support. These include the governorship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and parliamentary positions for Maulana Fazl’s son, Asad Mehmood. The PPP reportedly offered to have Asad elected as a senator from Sindh, while the government offered the slot of Balochistan chief minister or an MPA seat from the province.
Next Steps for the Constitutional Amendment
With the amendment delayed, the government’s strategy is to gather more support before reconvening Parliament. As the political maneuvering continues, the outcome remains uncertain. The situation underscores the complexity of Pakistani politics and the intricate alliances that shape legislative outcomes. Stay updated on this evolving story in our Opinions section.
