Foreign visits of ruling parties MPs cancelled

ISLAMABAD: Those members of ruling coalition parties in the National Assembly and Senate who are presently abroad have been asked to return to Pakistan as early as possible.

On the other hand, MPs of treasury benches have been barred from flying abroad. Foreign official visits of MNAs and senators from government benches have also been cancelled.

A delegation of parliamentarians led by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was also scheduled to visit Geneva on the coming weekend but they too have been told to stop. The formal cancellation of the delegation’s visit is expected in a day or two.

The government is preparing for the second and decisive effort to get the constitutional amendments bill passed for the establishment of Federal Constitution Court, reform of appointment process of judges of the superior judiciary and others.

No ruling party member of parliament has been told when the constitutional amendment bill will be tabled and passed in the National Assembly and Senate. Most of the MPs expect that it may happen after Oct 16 soon after the conclusion of SCO summit but they are not sure; it can happen even before Oct 16.

The News reported Tuesday about the confidence of an official source that the constitutional amendments will be made and there was nothing to worry about the number (2/3rd majority)

The official was uncomfortable with a recent The News story that had talked about the government’s deficiency in attaining 2/3rd majority, required for constitutional amendments. He 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 was 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 the 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 the constitutional amendments as per 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.