The federal government has announced changes in the timings of key parliamentary sessions.
The National Assembly session, initially scheduled for 11:30 am, has been rescheduled to 4:00 pm. The federal cabinet meeting will now occur at 3:00 pm, instead of the previously set time.
The Senate session will be held at 6 pm.
Bilawal-Dar meeting ends; Proposed Constitutional amendments still shuddered in mystery
The meeting between members of the Special Parliamentary Committee and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has concluded. Following the meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar arrived at the Speaker’s Chamber, addressing media inquiries regarding the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
When asked about the meeting with Ishaq Dar, he described it as "nice," but provided limited information on the specifics of the constitutional amendments.
Dar was questioned by journalists about whether the numbers for the amendments were sufficient. He indicated that the numbers would be complete in due time but did not specify when.
Reporters also inquired about the details of the proposed amendments. Dar replied that he was not familiar with the draft and suggested consulting the Law Minister for further details. "When the committee gives permission, everything will be told to you," he said. He also refrained from providing the number of proposed amendments, telling reporters, "You can guess about it yourself."
Judicial reforms bill not on agenda of NA session
The National Assembly will convene today at 4:00 PM, with a six-point agenda outlined for the session. Notably, the constitutional amendment bill related to judicial reforms is absent from the agenda.
The session will include attention notices from Asiana Naz Tanoli and Zahra Wadud Fatemi addressing issues related to diabetes patients across the country. Additionally, Shahida Begum’s notice regarding the poor quality of education in Islamabad will be discussed.
The agenda also features further deliberation on the motion presented by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for Law Nazir Tarar, expressing gratitude for the President's address to Parliament.
The omission of the judicial reforms bill from today’s agenda may lead to speculation about its timing and future consideration.
Special committee of Parliament
The government has decided to hold wide consultations on critical parliamentary affairs.
These discussions have been entrusted to a special committee of Parliament, which has been tasked with reviewing constitutional amendments and judicial reforms.
An emergency meeting of the Special Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by Khursheed Shah, has been called and will be held at 2 pm at Parliament House. The committee is expected to review proposals related to potential judicial reforms and constitutional amendments, with sources indicating that the possibility of submitting a draft related to judicial reforms is considered.
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Efforts are underway to foster a consensus between the government and the opposition on these crucial matters. The Speaker reportedly proposed the rescheduling of the National Assembly session, and sources confirm that the session will be held at 4:00 pm following this adjustment.
The outcomes of these consultations and committee deliberations are anticipated to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s legislative agenda in the coming weeks.
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PML-N, PPP direct all lawmakers to vote on amendment Bill in Parliament
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has issued strict instructions to all its parliamentary members to ensure their presence in both the National Assembly and Senate as efforts to pass the constitutional amendment bill intensify. The directive came following a meeting of the PML-N’s parliamentary parties held at the Prime Minister’s Office.
After the meeting, Senator Irfan Siddiqui issued an official letter to party members, urging them to attend their respective houses and vote in favor of the constitutional amendment bill. Siddiqui emphasized that members must cast their votes on the party’s decision.
Pakistan People's Party has also instructed its members of Parliament to ensure their participation in the National Assembly and Senate meetings.
PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari issued a letter directing members to vote on any legislation or bill in the National Assembly and Senate according to the party leadership's instructions.
He instructed parliamentarians to ensure their presence in both the Senate and National Assembly meetings and that members vote on any legislation or bill as directed by the party leadership.
