ISLAMABAD: The government has retracted its proposed amendments to Articles 63-A and 38 of the Constitution, which were initially included in the draft of the constitutional amendment bill.
The final version of the bill presented in the Senate no longer includes changes to these articles. Previously, the government had suggested that votes cast by lawmakers against their party leader’s directives would still be counted.
What is Article 63-A?
Article 63-A of the Constitution of Pakistan addresses the disqualification of Parliament members based on defection or “floor-crossing.” It aims to uphold party discipline and loyalty. According to this article:
“If a member of a Parliamentary Party from a single political party votes or abstains from voting contrary to any direction issued by the party, in relation to (i) the election of the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, (ii) a vote of confidence or no-confidence, or (iii) a Money Bill or a Constitutional Amendment Bill, they may be declared by the Party Head to have defected. A copy of this declaration will be forwarded to the Presiding Officer and the Chief Election Commissioner, as well as the member concerned.”
Article 63-A empowers party leaders to instruct their members on how to vote on crucial matters, ensuring that lawmakers adhere to the collective stance of their party. If a member violates this article, the party leader can request the disqualification of that member from the Assembly, leading to the loss of their seat.
By enforcing party discipline, Article 63-A limits the independence of individual lawmakers, compelling them to follow party directives on critical votes.
The government’s recent decision to remove the proposed amendment indicates that the existing rules regarding party loyalty and defection will remain intact.
