The amendments in the clauses 51, 63, 175, 187 and 195 would also take place under the package.
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
The government adjourned the session of National Assembly and Senate till Monday moments after the sitting held on Sunday late night.
The session was adjourned without moving the much-talked about constitutional amendment bill in the House.
Meanwhile, the sessions of cabinet and Senate were also deferred till tomorrow.
“It seems that the session was adjourned due to the lack of numbers required to pass the bill,” said Defence Minister Khawaja Asif after the session.
According to media reports, the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had asked the government to put the legislation on hold till tomorrow to further deliberate over the proposed bill.
Both the National Assembly and the Senate sessions were earlier delayed as deliberations continued to secure two-thirds majority for constitutional amendment.
According to sources, the National Assembly session, convened at 11:30 am, had been delayed till 8pm while the Senate session has also been delayed till 10pm.
Earlier, speaking to the media outside Parliament House in Islamabad, Atta Tarar stated that discussions on the constitutional amendment have been ongoing since the morning.
“This is a matter of constitutional change, and each clause is being considered with seriousness, with legal experts’ opinions sought on every point,” he added.
He mentioned that consultations were taking place with Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the draft, and the input of legal experts was crucial.
“This is a significant moment as an amendment to the constitution is about to take place, and the purpose of these consultations is the welfare of the people,” he added.
Atta Tarar also noted that the Charter of Democracy promised to simplify the process of justice, and consultations on constitutional amendments are ongoing between political parties.
“We hope for progress today, which will be shared with the media,” he concluded.
Earlier on Saturday, the ruling coalition postponed the constitutional amendment bill for a day due to the absence of two MNAs from the country.
Meanwhile, MNA-elect of PPP Makhdoom Tahir Rasheeduddin took oath in the National Assembly session held with Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah in the chair. Tahir won the by-election from NA-171 Rahim Yar Khan-III.
THE AMENDMENT BILL
The constitutional amendment bill related to the judiciary includes a proposal to increase the age of superannuation of Supreme Court judges to 68 years from 65 years, and that of high court judges from 62 years to 65 years.
The planned amendment will also change the procedure of appointment of judges to superior judiciary and merger of parliamentary committee on judiciary with Judicial Commission.
NUMBER GAME
The coalition government requires 224 votes or two-thirds majority in the lower house for approval of the constitutional amendment.
At present, the government has the support of 213 legislators – 111 of PML-N, 68 (PPP) and 22 (MQM-P). The alliance also has five PML-Q MNAs, four of IPP, and one each of BAP, ANP and Muslim League-Ziaul Haq.
If the government gets the support of eight JUI-F members, it will have 221 votes which will still be short of the magic number of 224. In order to go past it, the government requires support of independent MNAs.
As for the Senate, the ruling party has to get support of 64 members. Currently, it has the support of 55 members.
The government has support of 19 PML-N senators, 24 of PPP, four of BAP, three of MQM-P and five independent members in the Senate.
So, it requires votes of five JUI-F and four independent senators to complete the numbers required for the constitutional amendment.
The government has directed its senators to stay in Islamabad for a possible constitutional amendment.
Important points of the constitutional amendment bill which is likely to be tabled soon in the National Assembly and Senate have come forward.
Cabinet sources said 22 clauses would be included in the proposed constitutional package.
The amendments in the clauses 51, 63, 175, 187 and 195 would also take place under the package.
Sources disclosed that among the proposed amendments also include enhancing the representation of Balochistan Assembly as it has been proposed to increase the seats of Balochistan from 65 to 81.
Cabinet sources also said it has been suggested to send a panel of five senior judges to PM for the appointment of the Chief Justice.
It was added that the parliamentary committee will be combined with the judicial commission for the former’s empowerment.
Cabinet sources further said the establishment of the Constitutional Court will be implemented in which there would be a total of five judges.