To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires a ‘golden number’ of 224 votes
The National Assembly of Pakistan will meet today at 11 to vote on the 27th constitutional amendment. After two days of heated debate, the amendment was passed in the Senate on Monday with 64 votes.
The bill aims to establish a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and grant the president permanent immunity, as well as lifetime status for the rank of field marshal, amid criticism that the change would erode the independence of the judiciary.
The National Assembly consists of 336 members, but with 10 seats currently vacant, the total number of sitting members is 326. To pass a constitutional amendment, the ruling coalition requires the “golden number” of 224 votes.
At present, the ruling alliance has the support of 237 members in the National Assembly. PML-N is the largest party in the coalition with 125 members, followed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement with 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid with 5, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party with 4 and one member each from Pakistan Muslim League-Zia and Balochistan Awami Party. The government also enjoys the support of four independent members.
However, the National Party, which is part of the ruling coalition, has decided not to vote for the constitutional amendment.
With 74 members, the PPP is the second largest party in the coalition. Its support has been crucial in helping the federal government secure not only a simple majority but also a two-thirds majority when required.
On the other hand, the opposition benches have only 89 members in total. These include 75 independents, 10 members from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Pakistan) and one member each from Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Akwami Party (PMAKwami).
Read: 27th Amendment rushed through the Senate under repeal
Senate passes amendment
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar moved the motion for approval of the 27th constitutional amendment, which was passed by a majority vote. During the session chaired by Gillani, the law minister presented each clause of the bill for approval.
Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a vigorous protest during the proceedings. They tore copies of the bill and gathered in front of the speaker’s podium, shouting slogans against the government. Despite the uproar, the vote continued and clause by clause was approved.
PTI Senator Saifullah Abro did not participate in the protest and voted instead for the amendment. JUI-F Senator Ahmed Khan and Senator Naseema Ehsan also supported the bill.
A joint meeting between the Senate and the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice had approved the amendment with minor adjustments, amid an opposition boycott yesterday.
Briefing the House about the deliberations on the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Chairman of the Committee Farooq Hamid Naek said the joint committee session included all members and special invitees who proposed certain amendments.
