ISLAMABAD – The rumor mill never stops turning. While much of the speculation proves mere political rhetoric, yet the country’s history shows that some of the rumors eventually come true. Parliamentary history demonstrates that constitutional amendment has never been an easy task for the government. The ruling party has to ensure numerical strength to pass the constitutional package, which can only be possible with the cooperation of coalition partners. Though informal political discussions have started in the close circle of the ruling clique, the government has yet to initiate proper moves to get the constitutional package passed.
Background discussions with senior parliamentarians revealed that there are some proposals to change geographical boundaries by carving out new provinces, changing the tenure of the national assembly from five to four years, amending the procedure to appoint Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), modifying LG polls. There are proposals to more empower the judiciary to take decisions to impose ‘Governor rule’ and other related changes.
In order to ensure the legislation, they said the ruling clique needs to be on the same page to ensure required strength in the parliament to approve the constitutional amendment. The final draft will land in the parliament only after evolving consensus in all the coalition partners. The matter related to changing geographical boundaries has remained under discussion by the main politicians around six months ago. Now, this matter is once again set to be discussed in the near future. There is mixed opinion about the making of new provinces as there is a difference of opinion in the country’s political parties on this sensitive matter. Political and constitutional experts aware of the possible development shared with this newspaper that the rough draft of proposals is not acceptable to the allied partners so it may take time.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, talking with The Nation, said that there is some pending legislation in the 27th constitutional amendment in the education and health sector.
“The legislation will be carried out on pending matters in the education and health sector, as the draft for the 28th constitutional amendment is still not under consideration,” said the minister, mentioning that the government would definitely be able to manage the required strength for the legislative business on the particular matter.
“I will not say the 28th constitutional amendment is on the backburner, but assure that the government has not been mulling over it,” said Tariq Fazal Chaudhary , when asked about carving out new provinces in the country. “The matter related to the new provinces has been under discussion in the media screens but I have not seen any draft or practical measures for changing geographical boundaries,” he remarked.
Some senior politicians, avoiding to share names in the media , shared that the government will not only make changes in the ‘health and education ‘sectors by naming it as an extension of 27th constitutional amendment. The move will start only after assuring the required strength as legislation is on the cards for other important matters.According to the constitutional experts the ruling coalition has 233 members in the 336-member National Assembly , compared with the opposition’s 103 seats. On the treasury benches, the PML-N has 125 seats, PPP 74, MQM 22, PML-Q five, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party four, and PML-Z, Awami Balochistan Party, and National People’s Party one seat each. This tally is easily touching 2/3 majority in the lower house of the parliament.
Though the government had 2/3 majority for 27th constitutional package, yet it needs to understand that the consent was really as difficult task for the ruling party(PML-N)
