Constitutional amendments: Govt short of 5 Senators, 7 MNAs to achieve magic number

ISLAMABAD: The government benches are short of five senators and seven members of the National Assembly to carry out constitutional amendments, claim sources.

“We are more deficient in numbers than before but the effort is on to achieve the magic number (2/3rd majority in both the houses),” a government source said, adding that next week is important.

The News talked to three influential government members of Parliament but found none of them sure about achieving the goal of constitutional amendments regarding superior judiciary. They appear to be dependent on the work of some other forces than relying on their own muscles.

One of these sources said that during the last effort in this respect, the government had more numbers than now as some of the MNAs, who had assured their support to the government for these constitutional amendments in the past, have run away. It is said that in the Senate the government is short of five votes whereas the deficiency in the National Assembly is of seven members.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman has become a difficult challenge for the ruling coalition parties. Neither PMLN and PPP nor even the interior minister Mohsin Naqvi has succeeded in convincing Maulana to side with the government.

Even if the government achieves the required number, there is an urge to have Maulana on its side instead of leaving him to join the PTI.

According to a ruling party Senator, the chances of getting through the constitutional amendments is becoming dim. However, another key MP from the treasury benches said when the “state” takes a decision it makes the things happen.

The government is also working on Akhtar Mengal of the Balochistan National Party but Maulana still remains the prime target to achieve.

Before the last embarrassing anticlimax of the ruling parties’ effort with regard to the judiciary related constitutional amendments, the government sources were more confident than now.

Many even in the PMLN today set their eyes on Bilawal Bhutto, who is making the case for setting up a Federal Constitution Court. Bilawal, however, has also not yet succeeded in wooing Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Moulana remains relevant even after the latest Supreme Court’s decision in Article 63A case.