Key Meetings on the 27th Constitutional Amendment
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaged in a series of meetings with various political party leaders in Islamabad on Thursday, focusing on the proposed twenty-seventh constitutional amendment. These discussions aimed to gather insights and support from different factions of the political spectrum.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation, consisting of seven members, was led by its convener and Federal Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) sent a four-member delegation, headed by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
Another significant delegation came from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, led by its President and Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan. During these meetings, extensive discussions were held regarding the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
PM Sharif initiated formal consultations with government coalition partners, ensuring transparency about the proposed amendment and seeking their support for its passage through both houses of parliament. A press release from the PM Office stated that these discussions focused on the proposed amendment, emphasizing its potential to strengthen the federation, judiciary, and democracy.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah were also present during the meetings.
Cabinet Meeting and Approval Process
An important meeting of the federal cabinet has been scheduled for Friday morning to discuss and approve the draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair this meeting, with the sole agenda being the discussion and approval of the amendment. The Federal Minister for Law will brief the cabinet on the contents of the proposed amendment, after which the prime minister will take the cabinet into confidence.
Following the cabinet’s approval, the amendment will be tabled in the Senate on Friday. The government is confident that the numbers in the Senate are sufficient to pass the amendment without the support of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F).
In the 96-member Upper House, the ruling coalition is confident of securing at least 65 votes in favor of the 27th amendment. The government is also expected to receive support from the Awami National Party (ANP), which has three senators. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already met with the ANP delegation.
Independent Senator Naseema Ehsan has reportedly assured her backing for the amendment. Additionally, six other independent senators are likely to vote in favor of the 27th Amendment. Efforts are ongoing to secure support from JUI-F senators as well.
Next Steps and Details on the Amendment
On Thursday, Advisor to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah mentioned that the draft for the 27th amendment would be presented before the cabinet tomorrow. After the cabinet’s approval, the draft would be forwarded to Standing Committees, according to statements made to a private television channel. The Standing Committees would then debate the draft, he added.
When asked about the timeline, the advisor confirmed that the draft for the 27th amendment would be sent to the National Assembly after approval from the Senate.
Regarding constitutional courts, the advisor noted that there is consensus among coalition partners for establishing such courts. On the topic of judicial transfers and postings, he mentioned that there is an existing mechanism in place.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.