ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif has informed the National Assembly that a Constitutional amendment package would be tabled in the house following achieving complete consensus.
Speaking on the floor of the house, the Minister said, “A draft has been prepared in order to address constitutional imbalances, particularly those related to the parliament. There is no political motivation behind this move.”
He said that they wanted and desired complete consensus within the house. He was of the view that the process would continue, and they believed that no one would oppose the proposals.
Numbers Game and JUI-F
The coalition government needs 224 votes or a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for approval of the constitutional amendment. Currently, the government has the support of 213 lawmakers out of which 111 are from PML-N, 68 from PPP and 22 from MQM-P. The alliance also has the support of five PML-Q MNAs, four IPP, and one each of ANP, BAP and Muslim League-Ziaul Haq.
If the government manages to get the support of eight JUI-F members, it will have 221 votes which is still short of the number of 224. In order to pass it, the government needs the support of independent MNAs.
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While in the Senate, the ruling party has to get the support of 64 members. Currently, it has the support of 55 Senators. The government has the support of 19 PML-N Senators, 24 of PPP, four of BAP, three of MQM-P and five independent members.
So, it needs the votes of five JUI-F and four independent senators to complete the numbers required to make the amendment to the constitution. The government has asked its senators to stay in Islamabad for a possible amendment.
