27th Amendment: Speaker tasked with developing consensus

ISLAMABAD: With sources claiming that the government enjoys the support of 224 MNAs required for getting the proposed 27th Amendment sail through the National Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked Speaker Ayaz Sadiq with developing consensus among all the political parties, as the aim, according to the sources, is to get the bill passed next week.

It is also believed that the government is aiming at getting the 27th Amendment passed in the National Assembly next week.

Read more: Reserved seats saga brings two-thirds majority for Shehbaz

On the other hand, the sources also said that the prime minister has cancelled foreign visits of all the ministers and parliamentarians, directing them to stay in the federal capital, which means the government may table the 27th Amendment Bill soon.

Meanwhile, the MQM-P on Wednesday fully backed the 27th Amendment which will meet their long-standing demand of strong local governments with constitutional guarantees.

Read more: No one should be shocked, surprised by amendment: MQM-P

CONSULTATIONS AND PLAN-B

Amid the hectic political activity surrounding the proposed constitutional change, the speaker has convened a meeting of parliamentary leaders and chief whips of all the political parties on Wednesday (today).

The two main opposition parties PTI and JUI-F also among those invited to attend the session.

Briefing the political leaders on the basic contours of the amendment is the purpose of this meeting where the government side would also make an effort to develop a strategy get the legislation passed by the parliament.

Read more: 27th Amendment: Govt to take coalition partners into confidence

Ayaz, the sources say, will request and try to convince all the parties to back the 27th Amendment. He is going to meet the political parties’ leadership individually to achieve the objective.

However, there is also a Plan B.

The government will rely on the ruling alliance’s strength which currently stands at 224 — a number which Shehbaz achieved as a result of the Supreme Court judgment in the reserved seats case.

It’s a developing story. Details to follow.