ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly resumed debate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment bill on Wednesday, second consecutive day. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled the amendment bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday. The lower house adjourned the hearing on Tuesday after heated debates on the amendment.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq Calls for Dialogue
As the session opened, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq referred to the agenda item on the amendment and invited Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai to speak. Moments later, the official NA YouTube live feed was disrupted.
When transmission resumed, Speaker Sadiq was heard thanking Achakzai and stressing the importance of political dialogue. “As Speaker of the National Assembly, I am ready to facilitate talks between the government and the opposition. We will find solutions when you sit together,” he said.
Repeated Live Stream Disruptions Raise Eyebrows
The live feed was interrupted several times during the session. Upon restoration, Speaker Sadiq urged the opposition to engage in dialogue, warning that avoiding talks would be “our collective misfortune.”
PTI Chairperson Gohar Ali Khan Responds
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan responded that his party “never gave up on dialogue.” He said that despite PTI’s earlier efforts to negotiate through representatives like Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, and Ali Amin Gandapur, “nothing transpired.”
He reiterated PTI’s demand to allow Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to meet PTI founder Imran Khan in jail.
Speaker Counters PTI’s Claims
Speaker Sadiq replied that PTI had not directly approached him to advance talks. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had shown goodwill by forming a high-powered committee for dialogue, which met three times. “The treasury did not boycott those meetings,” Sadiq said, pointing to the opposition benches.
Following the exchange, Speaker Sadiq invited PPP’s Nafisa Shah to address the house.
Bill Requires Two-Thirds Majority for Passage
After debate concludes, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar is expected to move the bill for approval. The PML-N-led coalition successfully passed the amendment through the Senate earlier this week amid opposition protests.
The bill now requires a two-thirds majority — 224 votes — in the 336-member National Assembly, followed by presidential assent.
The ruling coalition commands sufficient strength with PML-N’s 125 seats, PPP’s 74, MQM-P’s 22, PML-Q’s 5, IPP’s 4, and one seat each held by PML-Z, BAP, and NPP. The opposition holds 103 seats.
Opposition Rejects Proposed Amendment
The amendment proposes the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and structural reforms in military leadership.
Opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan has announced a nationwide protest campaign, calling the proposal “a dark and dangerous attempt” to alter the Constitution.
PTI Chairperson Gohar Ali Khan argued the amendment seeks to “create another elite class” by granting lifetime immunity to the president from criminal proceedings. “With this amendment, democracy will exist only in name,” he said, vowing PTI would not accept it.
PTI’s Sardar Latif Khosa accused the PPP of “playing naughtily” with the Constitution at PML-N’s behest, while Amir Dogar claimed the amendment would “paralyse the judiciary.”
The federal government officials and PML-N leaders are defending the new amendment. Barrister Daniyal Chaudhry said the creation of the Federal Constitutional Court would put an end to extra-judicial interventions in the system. It will also reduce the Supreme Court’s workload.
