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Following multiple delays and after much controversy, the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill was tabled in the Senate on Sunday by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, shortly after it was approved by the federal cabinet.
The bill, better known as the Constitutional Package, is legislation proposing a set of constitutional amendments, including the extension of the chief justice’s term. A special parliamentary committee formed last month — which has the representation of all parties, including the PTI — has been discussing various proposals.
The bill, which was approved by the federal cabinet earlier in the day, was presented in the Senate today by Law Minister Tarar.
“I … wish to introduce a bill further to amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Constitution 26th Amendment Bill, 2024,” the law minister said at the Senate as he presented the bill.
“Is it opposed?” asked Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, to which he received no response.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the cabinet decided to approve the bill “in the wider interest of the country while adhering to the oath of national development and public welfare.”
PTI says ‘no objection’ to draft but decides not to vote
Meanwhile, the PTI, according to a statement released by its media cell, said that the party’s political committee has decided to boycott the voting process in both houses of the parliament, in case the government tabled the constitutional amendments today.
PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, in a conversation with Dawn.com, said that the party will attend both sessions of the parliament today, but will not vote for the amendment.
“The party will abstain from voting and record their protest while sitting in the parliament”, Bukhari said.
On the other hand, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the party had “no objections” to the final draft, but will not vote on the bill when it is presented in parliament.
“Our leader Imran Khan will always have the final say on party decisions, so we act on his instructions and recommendations,” the PTI chairman said, flanked by the JUI-F Chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman as the two held a press conference outside the latter’s residence.
“He instructed us to have more consultations before voting since this legislation is so serious.
“Given that we have no time for further consultations, as well as all the delays, how the bill was processed and how our MNAs and senators were harassed and intimidated, the PTI cannot vote for this bill,” Gohar declared.
Expressing gratitude to the JUI-F chief for his role in the process, Gohar said that the party will attend parliament today and has “no objections” if Fazl votes on the bill. He also demanded “the return” of PTI lawmakers who have been allegedly abducted.
“We will deliver a speech on the assembly floor, but we will not vote on the 26th amendment.”
‘The PTI has the right to not vote’: Fazl
Addressing the press conference, Fazl said that he had no objections to the PTI’s decision to not vote on the bill, saying that “it is their right”.
“We have reached a consensus with the PTI, but given their condition and what they have been through, it is their right to boycott the vote,” Fazl said, referring to the allegations of intimidation and the conditions in which Imran Khan has been incarcerated.
“We have made efforts, but if a party has a strong position, we will accept that,” he added.
Will move forward with or without PTI: Bilawal
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the government will move forward with the amendment whether the PTI voted in favour of it or not.
“We have waited for as long as we could, and today, under any circumstance, this work will be completed,” Bilawal said while speaking to reports at the Senate.
Bilawal said that he had hoped the bill was passed with the joint consensus of JUI-F, and, “god willing, that will happen today”.
He said that he was disappointed with the PTI’s stance, adding that he was hopeful that the party would still agree to be a part of the constitutional amendment.
Govt claims numbers complete
Ministers of the federal government claimed yesterday that it had the required number of lawmakers to pass the much-touted 26th constitutional amendment.
Recounting the various political meetings occurring in the past few days, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said: “Despite the numbers and homework being complete, the attempt was made not to stop the consultation process and achieve broader consensus because when a constitutional amendment takes place, it is our obligation to not only bring all political parties onboard but have a fruitful debate on every clause to take it to a logical conclusion.”
“As [PPP Chairman] Bilawal [Bhutto-Zardari] said yesterday. We have other options present but we are democratic-minded people and it is our effort to move forward on this matter after a complete consensus.”
Similarly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also maintained that the government was pursuing a broad consensus on the constitutional package in both houses of parliament despite the government’s numbers being “pretty much complete”.
“Our numbers are complete, Asif said.
More to follow
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