Pak Govt Delays Tabling of Crucial Constitutional Amendment Bill

Pak Govt Faces Delays in Constitutional Amendment Process

The Pak govt was once again compelled to delay the tabling of a controversial constitutional amendment bill in parliament on Monday. This delay stems from insufficient numbers to ensure its passage.

Details of the Amendments

The specifics of the amendments remain undisclosed as the government has not communicated them to the media. Initial reports suggest that the amendments may include proposals to increase the retirement age of judges and regulate the tenure of the Supreme Court's chief justice.

PML-N's Senator Statement

• Senator Irfan Siddiqui, from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), announced the delay.
• He indicated that both houses would be prorogued and will reconvene when ready to introduce the amendments.
• Siddiqui expressed hope for the bill to be tabled within a week or two, dismissing concerns about prolonged delays.

Coalition Support Needed

The failure to secure support from Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), has hindered the government's efforts. The amendment bill requires 224 votes in the National Assembly and 64 in the Senate, while the coalition has 213 and 52, respectively. Rehman's backing is considered crucial for the bill's success.

Opposition Criticism

• During the assembly session, the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticized the government for its approach to judicial reforms.
• Former speaker Asad Qaiser condemned the perceived misuse of parliament, alleging that the proposed legislation lacked transparency.

Government's Position

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed that the draft for the bill has not yet reached the federal cabinet. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the legislation as an effort to address constitutional imbalances.