‘Constitutional amendments are a must’

ISLAMABAD: An official was uncomfortable with The News story that talked about the government’s deficiency in attaining 2/3rd majority, required for constitutional amendments, and insisted with confidence that more than the required number will be available.

The constitutional amendments are a must, he said, adding the required amendments will be made. He said there is no need to worry about the required 2/3rd majority. “You will see we will have more than the required number,” assured the source.

About the timing of the constitutional amendments, it was said, “Very soon”. The impression gathered by this correspondent from this background discussion with the official source, shows that it can happen anytime but there are more chances of getting the constitutional amendments through soon after the SCO summit to be held on October 15th and 16th.

Why is there such an urge for the constitutional amendments? The answer, The News got was, it’s critical for the sake of political and economic stability of the country. The News reported last week that the government benches are short of five senators and seven members of the National Assembly to carry out constitutional amendments, claim sources. The News story was based on background talk with three influential government members of Parliament. None of them was found sure about achieving the goal of constitutional amendments regarding superior judiciary. They appeared to be dependent on the work of some other forces than relying on their own muscles.

One of these sources said that during the last effort in this respect, the government had more numbers than now as some of the MNAs, who had assured their support to the government of these constitutional amendments in the past, have run away. It was said that in the Senate, the government was short of five votes whereas the deficiency in the National Assembly was of seven members.

According to a ruling party Senator, the chances of getting through the constitutional amendments was becoming dim. However, another key MP from the treasury benches had said when the “state” takes a decision, it makes the things happen.