There is no deadlock, we have numbers in the Senate, says Federal Law Minister Azam Tarar
The approved draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, approved by the Joint Parliamentary Committee yesterday (Sunday), is to be tabled in the Senate today.
Currently, 64 votes are required in the Senate to pass any constitutional amendment. The PPP has 26 seats, making it the most dominant party on the government benches, while the PML-N has 20. Among the coalition partners, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has four members and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has three. Independent senators on the government side include Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, Mohsin Naqvi, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim and Faisal Vawda.
However, the ruling coalition lacks a two-thirds majority in the Senate. With 61 seats, it will require at least three opposition votes to secure approval.
On the opposition benches, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains the largest party with 14 seats, with a newly elected senator expected to take oath soon. Awami National Party (ANP) has three seats while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has seven. Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) each have one senator.
“There is no deadlock; we have the numbers in the Senate,” federal law minister Azam Tarar told the media. “Voting will begin as soon as all voters are present,” he added.
Once passed by the Senate, the bill will go to the National Assembly for a vote, with the matter set for 5 p.m. 16.30 today.
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.
Read: The Prime Minister hosts a hallwa party for senators after finalizing the 27th Amendment
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, Balochistan National Party and Balochistan National Party. The government also enjoys the support of four independent members.
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.
Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Sunday condemned the 27th Amendment as an “attack on the constitution” and “Pakistan’s 9/11” as the opposition alliance announced the launch of a nationwide protest campaign to resist “the direct attack on the foundations of the state”.
The Alliance also announced plans to form committees to build public opinion, engage trade organizations and consult with members of the legal fraternity. “The justice system is being dismantled. Lawyers will play a key role in this movement,” it said.
The Joint Committee adopts amendments
The joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and the National Assembly has unanimously approved the draft of the 27th constitutional amendment, paving the way for its presentation in the Senate on Monday morning.
The Federal Government moved a significant constitutional reform package to the Upper House when the proposed 27th Amendment was formally tabled in the Senate following the approval of the Federal Cabinet on Saturday (yesterday). The bill seeks to introduce major structural changes to Pakistan’s military command framework and legal system.
Read more: Joint Parliamentary Committee Approves Draft 27th Constitutional Amendment
Under the proposal, a new position titled Chief of the Defense Forces would be created, effectively replacing the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The amendment outlines a revised chain of command by amending Article 243, which deals with the control and command of the armed forces.
The bill also proposes the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court with the mandate to decide constitutional disputes and provide authoritative interpretation of constitutional issues. For this purpose, a new new chapter will be inserted in Part VII of the Constitution.
Additionally, the amendment seeks notable changes to Article 175A, which currently governs the appointment of judges to superior courts. The proposed changes aim to reshape the process of judicial appointments in line with the new Constitutional Court framework.
The Prime Minister withdraws the immunity clause
Read also: The judiciary is weighing responses to the 27th amendment
In a post on X, Shehbaz said he heard about the development when he returned from Azerbaijan and clarified that the proposal was not part of the cabinet-approved draft. “While I recognize their good faith intention, the proposal was not part of the cabinet-approved draft. I have instructed that it be withdrawn immediately,” he said.
Reaffirming his stance on accountability, the Prime Minister added that “an elected Prime Minister must remain fully accountable, both to the court and to the people”.
Federal Law Minister said the committee members had been informed about the Prime Minister’s message, which confirmed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had withdrawn the immunity clause for the Prime Minister.
