Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

The incumbent federal government has yet to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament to approve a controversial constitutional package.

Despite the government’s claim of having the requisite magic number in the Senate, the government is struggling to pass the amendments. Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is resisting voting in favour of the government.

The magic number to pass the constitutional package in the Senate (Upper House) is sixty-four, whereas the coalition government has confirmed fifty-nine votes.

Ziauddin and Abdul Moiz Malik

Meanwhile, JUI-F has five votes in the Senate.

The government has not shared the constitutional package draft with any party, including Chief JUI-F Rehman, upon which he said, “It is a sensitive issue which should be discussed calmly.”

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Omer Ayub Khan said, “They (the government) have no draft with them, and they did not know what to discuss.”

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared the constitutional package “a serious piece of legislation” and advised the government not to act hastily.

The Senate meeting is expected at 12:30 PM today.