The PPP and its incumbent treasury partners are in serious trouble in securing a two-third vote on the proposed 20th Amendment Bill, both in the National Assembly or Senate of Pakistan.
“The government has lost two-thirds majority after 28 MPs, including 9 MNAs and 3 Senators, were suspended. Seven NA seats are already vacant,” officials told The News.At least 228 votes from the National Assembly and 67 from Senate are essential for a constitutional amendment with the ruling parties, short of 18 and 5 numbers, in the respective Houses.
The officials at Parliamentary Affairs Division explained that the Constitution requires two-thirds of total membership of the House and not of those present or sitting ones. Article 239 titled “Constitution Amendment Bill” makes the things crystal clear while repeatedly emphasizing that no amendment would take place till, both Houses, the NA and Senate, pass it with a vote ‘not less than two-thirds of the total membership.’
“A Bill to amend the Constitution may originate in either House and, when the Bill has been passed by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House, it shall be transmitted to the other House,” article 239 (1) provides. The President will give assent at the final stage. In the 342-member NA, which is presently comprised of 325 in absence of 16 members, the PPP along with its allies’ bag around 210 votes due to suspensions and vacant seats. One Fata seat is also vacant.
The latest number game shows that the PPP has 122 members against its official strength of 127 as its four MNAs are suspended under apex court order and the Speaker (Dr. Fehmida Mirza) has a casting vote in case of a tie.
The second largest in NA is the PML-Q having 50 strength on the papers but split in at least three groups, one led by Chaudhrys, second its Like-Minded members and thirdly those maintaining relations with both sides.
The Chauhdrys, in alliance with the PPP-led government, have support of 35 MNAs; the PML-LM enjoys backing of at least seven members whereas others are in between them.
The MQM is comprised of 25 MNAs, ANP enjoys 12 (its one member Khawaja Hoti resigned and joined PTI), NPP has one MNA, BNP-A has also one and 10 including 8 Fata are independent members presently part of the government.
Another treasury party is the PML-Functional having official strength of five members but practically and presently it has four as its MNA Haji Khuda Bux Rajar (PML-F) is suspended as per the court decision.
Thus the treasury, in physical numbers, is comprised of PPP (122), PML-Q (35), MQM (25), ANP (12), independents (10) including Fata, PML-F (4), NPP (1) and BNP-A (1), are in position to bag around 210.
On other side, the PML-N has official strength of 91 but its two are under suspension and another two, Javed Hashmi and Mehmoona Hashmi quit and joined the PTI after resigning from the MNA seat. Thus its total at present is 87. A few independent MNAs including Akhtar Kanju are PML-N supporters.
The JUI-F has official strength of 7 members in the NA but it has the support of two Fata-MNAs too, thus it makes a total of 9 in the Assembly.Besides, the Q’s Like-Minded are seven in number and PPP-Sherpao’s strength is one in the National Assembly.
The position in senate is also tough for the treasury parties as far as making a two-third vote is concerned. Three treasury senators, two from the PPP and one from the PML-Functional, are under suspension at present.
In 100-member Senate, the government needs 67 votes for two-thirds majority whereas total existing seats of the House are 97 due to suspension of three members. Apart from suspended ones, the PPP (25), PML-Q (14), MQM (6), ANP (6), BNP-A (2), 9 independents including 5 Fata members, make a total of 62 or short of five numbers to be in two thirds.
On opposition side, the JUI-F, 13, PML-N, 7, PML-Q LM, 7, Jamaat-e-Islami, 3, National Party, 1, JWP, 1, PkMAP, 1, and PPP-Sherpao, 1 and 2 independents, make a combined total of 34, enough to thwart an amendment bill in the Senate, when three are suspended and Chairman has casting vote.
