The ongoing discussions regarding the 26th constitutional amendment have led to repeated schedule changes for Senate and National Assembly sessions.
The Senate session has now been rescheduled for the third time, with the latest notification from the Senate Secretariat indicating a new start time of 6:30 PM, previously set for 3:00 PM. The National Assembly will convene at 7:00 PM.
The Senate had been adjourned yesterday until 11:00 AM today, but the timing was quickly adjusted to 12:30 PM before yet another change pushed it to 3:00 PM.
This continued back-and-forth reflects the complex negotiations surrounding the proposed constitutional amendments, which have not yet garnered sufficient agreement among the parties involved.
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Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) stated that the draft for the constitutional amendment is prepared and awaits approval from the federal cabinet before it can be submitted to the Senate.
He stressed the need for a broader consensus, recalling that post-thirteenth amendment, it became customary for all political factions to agree on such matters.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif echoed this sentiment, asserting that while the numbers are in favor of the amendment, reaching a collective agreement remains a priority.
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Adding to the concerns, Akhtar Mengal, leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), criticized the government's approach, asserting that the amendments are being pushed through in a secretive manner, devoid of robust consultation.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held discussions with delegations from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and BNP-Mengal at the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F), indicating ongoing negotiations to build a consensus.
In a previous Senate meeting, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman highlighted the missing presence of several party members, expressing concern over the tactics employed in the discussions surrounding the constitutional amendment. Irfan Siddiqui assured him that the issues raised would be addressed.
As the political landscape remains charged, Syed Khurshid Shah, chairman of the special committee formed to deliberate on the constitutional amendment, claimed that the draft has received general approval.
However, the constant postponements raise questions about the government's ability to move forward with the proposed changes.
Despite previous announcements indicating the government's intent to introduce the constitutional amendment in the Senate ahead of the National Assembly, procedural delays have pushed this timeline further into uncertainty.
As it stands, the approval and subsequent presentation of the 26th constitutional amendment bill remain pending, with political stakeholders navigating a complex and often contentious landscape.
Key items on the National Assembly’s agenda include the presentation of the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill 2024 for approval and call-attention notices regarding alleged large-scale malpractices in the collection of general sales tax.
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Another call-attention notice is likely to be presented regarding non-payment of pensions to retired employees of Radio Pakistan, while a discussion will also be held on the president's address to the joint session of parliament.
It is worth noting that the special parliamentary committee on Friday approved the draft of the constitutional amendments. According to details, the development came after efforts were made to reach a consensus on the draft among multiple parties.
