ISLAMABAD: An “important” session of the Senate and the National Assembly is scheduled to be held on Sunday to pass the much anticipated constitutional amendment bill.
A six-point agenda for the National Assembly has also been issued. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a meeting before the National Assembly session to seek the federal cabinet’s approval for the constitutional amendment.
Earlier on Saturday, the ruling coalition delayed the constitutional amendment bill for a day because of the absence of two MNAs from the country.
JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri is in China and is expected to return in a day or so.
According to media reports quoting sources, the constitutional amendment bill pertaining to the judiciary includes a proposal to increase the age of retirement of Supreme Court judges to 68 years from 65 years, and that of high court judges from 62 years to 65 years.
The planned amendment will also amend the procedure of appointment of new judges to the superior judiciary.
The coalition government needs 224 votes or a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for approval of the constitutional amendment. Currently, the government has the support of 213 lawmakers out of which 111 are from PML-N, 68 from PPP and 22 are from MQM-P. The alliance also has the support of five PML-Q MNAs, four IPP, and one each of ANP, BAP and Muslim League-Ziaul Haq.
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If the government manages to get the support of eight JUI-F members, it will have 221 votes which is still short of the number of 224. In order to pass it, the government needs the support of independent MNAs.
While in the Senate, the ruling party has to get the support of 64 members. Currently, it has the support of 55 Senators. The government has the support of 19 PML-N Senators, 24 of PPP, four of BAP, three of MQM-P and five independent members.
So, it needs the votes of five JUI-F and four independent senators to complete the numbers required to make the amendment to the constitution. The government has asked its senators to stay in Islamabad for a possible amendment.
