The federal government decided on Saturday to table the much-awaited constitutional amendment today in the Senate and National Assembly.
Sources divulged that the government alliance and the parliament had reached consensus on the matter. It is expected that the National Assembly and Senate sessions will be held for a long time at night.
It was for the fourth time that the National Assembly session was delayed and will now be held at 9:30 pm.
Prior to this, the National Assembly session was convened at 3:00 pm but could not start.
Separately, the Senate session was also delayed for the fourth time and now had been summoned at 8:00 pm.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) stated that the draft for the constitutional amendment is prepared and awaits approval from the federal cabinet before it can be submitted to the Senate.
He stressed the need for a broader consensus, recalling that post-thirteenth amendment, it became customary for all political factions to agree on such matters.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif echoed this sentiment, asserting that while the numbers are in favor of the amendment, reaching a collective agreement remains a priority.
Adding to the concerns, Akhtar Mengal, leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), criticized the government's approach, asserting that the amendments are being pushed through in a secretive manner, devoid of robust consultation.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held discussions with delegations from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and BNP-Mengal at the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F), indicating ongoing negotiations to build a consensus.
In a previous Senate meeting, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman highlighted the missing presence of several party members, expressing concern over the tactics employed in the discussions surrounding the constitutional amendment. Irfan Siddiqui assured him that the issues raised would be addressed.
As the political landscape remains charged, Syed Khurshid Shah, chairman of the special committee formed to deliberate on the constitutional amendment, claimed that the draft has received general approval.
However, the constant postponements raise questions about the government's ability to move forward with the proposed changes.
Despite previous announcements indicating the government's intent to introduce the constitutional amendment in the Senate ahead of the National Assembly, procedural delays have pushed this timeline further into uncertainty.
As it stands, the approval and subsequent presentation of the 26th constitutional amendment bill remain pending, with political stakeholders navigating a complex and often contentious landscape.
Key items on the National Assembly’s agenda include the presentation of the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill 2024 for approval and call-attention notices regarding alleged large-scale malpractices in the collection of general sales tax.
