Government Fails to Secure Support for Constitutional Amendment as Fazlur Rehman Refuses to Back Bill

The coalition government has delayed its efforts to table a key constitutional amendment in the National Assembly, following the refusal of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to support the controversial bill.

The amendment, aimed at restructuring certain aspects of constitutional interpretation, has met significant resistance, particularly over concerns about extending the tenure of high-ranking officials. The government’s efforts to muster the required 224 votes have so far fallen short, with only 213 legislators currently backing the bill. Without the support of JUI-F, which holds eight seats, the government remains three votes short of the required two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.

In the Senate, the situation is equally challenging, where the government needs 64 votes but has secured only 55. Talks with independent members and JUI-F senators are ongoing, but the likelihood of passing the amendment remains uncertain.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have called for a detailed debate on the bill, opposing any hasty enactment. The government had initially planned to table the amendment on Sunday but rescheduled the session for Monday, hoping to secure additional support.