The Pakistani establishment is currently confronted with the daunting task of mobilizing the needed number of parliamentarians to facilitate some critical constitutional changes. Current affairs have some National Assembly (NA)Â Imran Khan’s and Senate members who are out of the country, making it hard to have a quorum for the house business. The gravity of the scenario has forced the government to order its members to cut short their overseas trips by October 15, creating an environment for a battle of the elements.
Government’s Warning that All Must Be Back by October 15
Considering the chronic delay in making constitutional changes to the Constitution and the commencement of nagging parliament by sieves at the coming snacking, the primary government has made its stance very clear to its overseas members by mandating that they should be back in Pakistan on or before October 15. The government made this request to help secure the two-thirds majority needed for crucial amendments, a significant achievement under normal circumstances but even more challenging with some members absent.
Any proposals of amendments shall also require a two-thirds vote in favor of both houses of parliament relative to their size about this one that comprised both the National Assembly and the Senate. Attaining this majority in the Pakistan scenario is quite an uphill task considering the repeated scene of party politics causing fragmentation and even slight attendance issues, which can incur a large doom exorbitantly. Due to absences from their ranks, the ruling coalition and even the various members of the opposition parties have not helped the government’s problems.
Lawmakers Overseas: A Grand Barrier Court Demands
As per some information sources, 10 to 15 lawmakers from the National Assembly and Senate are currently outside the country, one of the hindrances in getting the numbers required for the exercise. Senior PML-N leader Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Khursheed Shah of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are among the most criticized absentees.
However, the Senate is no different. Here, too, several important members are absent. Rana Mahmood ul Hassan from PPP, Dinesh Kumar from the Balochistan Awami Party, and one Senator Abdul Qadir are known to be outside the country. Their absence has added another dimension to the government’s challenges to securing the necessary attendance.
Opposition Members Also Absent from Court Demands
The issue is not only within the coalition government. The opposition, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI), has some members outside the country, worsening the picture even more. Hoca Riaz Fatyana, in the ranks of the National Assembly members of PTI, and other ordinary members, such as Senator Faisal Saleem, are some of the absent members. Both are essential for the attendance and the majority of the opposition when it comes to voting on constitutional changes.
Hence, the problem is worse in Kashmir, which has been under such a complete umbrella that even several absent members can disturb acceptable legislative activity.
The Importance of Constitutional Amendments Court Demands
For instance, the constitutional amendments in Pakistan appeal more to the extent that the making and implementing structures of Pakistan are likely to change because of these amendments. These could be amendments to some concerned issues like electoral reforms, amendments to judiciary appointments, or divisions of federal and provincial governments’ powers. In case there is a delay in passing or a complete lack of passing these amendments, the policies that the government intends to achieve through the amendment may take a lot of work to realize.
It is not a walk in the park to effect a constitutional amendment. This means that two-thirds of the members of the parliament must be present in both houses, thereby making each legislator’s attendance a must. In everyday work, every member of the parliament can be absent or present on the avowed day of voting, so s/he may need help to portray the global legislation bringing shame, politics, or tolerance for change.
Consequences Of Failing To Secure Quorum Imran Khan’sÂ
If the government cannot establish the objective number of lawmakers by the agreed date of October 15, then it may be liable for drastic political repercussions. Failure to ratify the crucial draft of constitutional reforms could scorch such countries’ image in the eyes of institutions and outsiders. It could strengthen the hand of the opposition parties, thereby causing more significant turmoil. Failure to effect critical constitutional changes is also likely to hamper governance, as some changes may be necessary to restore order and facilitate efficient governance.
Situations like these could also create friction within the ruling coalition itself. However, some such members may return after the set time. Such internal dissonance and disasters may further aggravate the already overstrained political environment within the State.
Conclusion: A Race Against Time Court Demands Imran Khan’sÂ
The next few days are crucial for the government since every effort is directed toward bringing back the absent members in what appears to be a race against time as the government seeks to pass constitutional amendments. The absence of some key lawmakers from the ruling coalition and even the opposition party remains a considerable obstacle, and there is a deadline on October 15.
The outcome of this situation is such that it will obliterate the existing political scene in Pakistan for quite some time. Efforts to secure numbers will be successful, facilitating the passing of specific supporting legislation in critical areas, or failure will attract political turmoil and setbacks on the government’s agenda.
