After the federal cabinet meeting, the National Assembly session has also been delayed, with a new expected start time of 8 PM.
The National Assembly session was initially scheduled for 4 PM today but has faced a delay of four hours, with a revised start time of 8 PM. During this session, the constitutional amendment is expected to be presented for approval.
Meanwhile, the federal cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, which was set for 3 PM, has also not started yet. However, sources suggest that the meeting is likely to begin soon. The cabinet meeting was initially called for 11 AM, but it was postponed to 3 PM and still hadn't started by 5 PM.
Earlier, the Senate session was also delayed. The session, scheduled to start at 4 PM, was postponed until 7 PM. However, due to the delay in the National Assembly session, the Senate meeting might face further postponement.
The ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), has instructed its members to ensure their attendance in both the Senate and the National Assembly. Parliamentary leader Khawaja Asif has issued a letter to the National Assembly members, directing them to be present at today's session. Similarly, Senate parliamentary leader Irfan Siddiqui has also sent a letter to Senate members, instructing them to ensure their attendance.
The role of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has gained significance regarding the approval or rejection of the constitutional amendment. Last night, Bilawal Bhutto and Mohsin Naqvi held a lengthy meeting with Fazlur Rehman to discuss the amendment.
After a meeting between the government delegation and Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation led by Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan also arrived. The delegation included Asad Qaiser, Umar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza. According to sources, the PTI delegation also discussed the constitutional amendment during the meeting but avoided talking to the media.
The government needs the support of 13 more members in the National Assembly.
To pass the constitutional amendment, the government requires a two-thirds majority in the Parliament, meaning approximately 224 votes out of the 336-member Assembly. However, it seems the government is still short of at least a dozen votes in both houses.
The government needs the support of 13 more members in the National Assembly
Out of the 336 seats in the National Assembly, the government currently has 211 members, including 110 from PML-N, 68 from the Pakistan Peoples Party, and 22 from MQM Pakistan. Additionally, the government's allies include 4 members each from the Istehkam Pakistan Party and PML-Q, and one member each from PML-Zia, Balochistan Awami Party, and the National Party.
On the other hand, the opposition has 101 members in the National Assembly, including 80 from the Sunni Ittehad Council, 8 independent members backed by PTI, 8 from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), and one each from BNP Mengal, MWM, and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
In the Senate The government needs 9 more votes
In the Senate, the government requires 63 votes to pass the constitutional amendment. Currently, the government has 54 members in the Senate, including 24 from the Pakistan Peoples Party, 19 from PML-N, 4 from the Balochistan Awami Party, and 3 from MQM. Thus, the government still needs 9 more votes for the constitutional amendment.
On the opposition benches in the Senate, there are 17 members from PTI, 5 from JUI-F, 3 from ANP, and one member each from the Sunni Ittehad Council, MWM, BNP, National Party, and PML-Q, along with one independent senator. This brings the total number of opposition senators in the Senate to 31.
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