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27th Amendment

Ruling coalition crosses two-thirds mark in National Assembly

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Ruling coalition

ISLAMABAD: The ruling alliance in the National Assembly has garnered support from 237 members, comfortably exceeding the 224 votes needed for a two-thirds majority.

Among the coalition ranks, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) accounts for 126 members, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 75, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 22. Further backing comes from Quaid-e-Azam League (5), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (4), Zia League (1), and Balochistan Awami Party (1), along with support from four independent members.

However, the National Party, part of the coalition, has announced it will abstain from voting on the 27th Amendment.

On the opposition side, 89 members are in favor of opposing the bill, including 74 independents, one member from Sunni Ittehad Council, 10 from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and one each from BNP, MWM, and PKMAP.

Meanwhile, The National Assembly is set to convene shortly, with an 11-point agenda released ahead of the session.

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar is scheduled to present the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill for approval, while attention-drawing notices are also included on the agenda.

Additionally, the government will table bills for the establishment of two new educational institutions for consideration.

It is noteworthy that the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed in the Senate yesterday with a two-thirds majority, receiving 64 votes in favor and none against.

Meanwhile, the United Opposition has announced a boycott of both the Senate and National Assembly sessions.

PPP rejects all 27th Amendment proposals except Article 243 change

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PPP rejects

KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has taken a firm stance on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, with its Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorsing only one clause while discarding the rest after extensive deliberations.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said a delegation from the PML-N had approached the party seeking support for the amendment.

The proposed changes included the creation of a constitutional court, revisions to the NFC Award, reforms in education and population planning, restoration of executive magistracy, judicial transfers, and matters related to the Election Commission.

Bilawal stated that the only proposal the CEC agreed to support was the amendment pertaining to Article 243. He said the party outrightly rejected any move affecting the provincial share, adding that the PPP would not support such a proposal under any circumstances. All other points of the 27th Amendment, including changes to the NFC formula, were fully rejected.

Regarding the establishment of a constitutional court, Bilawal noted that while the idea existed in the Charter of Democracy, other commitments from the charter must also be considered. He emphasized that any such court must ensure equal representation from all four provinces.

Bilawal further said the CEC would reconvene after Friday prayers to finalize its position on the matter of the constitutional court.

Meanwhile, federal cabinet meeting, convened today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deliberate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment, has been postponed.

The session was expected to approve the draft of the 27th Amendment; however, cabinet members have been formally notified about the postponement.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Committee Room No. 2 of the Parliament House, where key government matters and proposed constitutional amendments were to be discussed.