ISLAMABAD: The matter of expanding seats of the Balochistan Assembly is postponed at the moment.
The final decision will be made after the advice of the prime minister. The allying party of the
Balochistan government has been delayed. The allying party of the Balochistan government, Balochistan Awami party will discuss the matter to the prime minister tonight.
The final decision will be made by the prime minister.
If the Prime Minister gives an approval, the seats of the Balochistan’s assembly will be expanded after the approval of the cabinet.
The path for the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has been cleared.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee of the Senate and National Assembly has given clause-by-clause approval to all the proposed amendments.
The report will be presented in the Senate tomorrow, while the amendments suggested by coalition parties will be reviewed again.
Consensus has been reached on approving the 27th Constitutional Amendment, as the joint committee approved the main draft containing most of the proposed changes.
The committee members also agreed in principle to grant the President immunity during and after his tenure, although the extent of this immunity is yet to be decided.
According to the amendment, the President will have the authority to transfer a High Court judge upon the recommendation of the Judicial Commission.
However, a Chief Justice of a High Court cannot be transferred, and a transferred judge will not be senior to the Chief Justice of the new court.
It was also agreed that constitutional courts will be established, and any case not pursued for one year will be considered disposed of.
Among the agreed provisions is the Prime Minister’s authority to appoint seven advisers.
The proposal to increase the number of advisers for Chief Ministers was also discussed.
The committee will submit its report to the Senate, after which the process for passing the amendment will begin.
During the session, MQM’s proposed amendment regarding funding for local representatives was also discussed, but PPP raised objections to MQM’s suggestions.
Meanwhile, other coalition parties presented three additional amendments.
The committee also deliberated on removing “Khyber” from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s name, suggesting it be renamed simply “Pakhtunkhwa,” and discussed increasing the number of seats in the Balochistan Assembly.
It should be noted that a two-thirds majority in both houses is required to amend the Constitution.
Currently, 64 votes in the Senate and 224 votes in the National Assembly are needed. The opposition holds 30 seats in the Senate and is likely to oppose the constitutional amendment.
