The government has decided to convene a joint session of parliament, bringing the number game in constitutional amendments back into focus.
Sources reveal that the federal government has scheduled the joint session for August 28, and members of the National Assembly and Senate have been informed accordingly. All parliamentarians have been instructed to ensure their presence at the session, though the agenda remains undisclosed.
The joint session will be used to pass bills that failed to secure approval in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Some bills were passed by the Senate but not the National Assembly, while others were passed by the National Assembly but not the Senate. These bills will now be put to a vote in the joint session.
The session is also likely to see the passage of new legislation regarding the Election Act and reserved seats.
Meanwhile, the number game in constitutional amendments has taken center stage once again. The government coalition does not have a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. In the 336-member house, the coalition holds 210 seats, while the opposition holds 103. The fate of 23 reserved seats remains undecided.
The opposition’s numbers in the Senate have shifted due to the JUI-F’s decision to sit on the opposition benches. The ruling coalition now has 59 seats in the Senate, while the opposition’s numbers have increased from 21 to 26. A constitutional amendment requires the support of 64 senators.
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It is noteworthy that President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate for later this week.
The National Assembly Secretariat has issued a notification calling for a session of the National Assembly on August 26th. The notification states that the President has summoned the session for 5 pm on Monday, August 26th, at the Parliament House.
This will be the 9th session of the 16th National Assembly.
In addition to the National Assembly session, President Zardari has also called for a Senate session on August 27th. The upper house will convene at 5 pm on Tuesday, August 27th.
The President has summoned these sessions of the National Assembly and Senate under Article 54(1) of the Constitution.
