The much-anticipated Constitutional Package, which had been kept under wraps for several weeks, failed to make it to the parliament floor on Sunday. Despite intense efforts by the ruling coalition, the government was unable to secure the two-thirds majority needed for the passage of the amendment.
Late-night proceedings in both the Senate and the National Assembly were adjourned after brief sessions. The Senate will reconvene today at 11:30AM, followed by the National Assembly at 12:30PM. However, before the amendment can proceed, it must first gain approval from the federal cabinet, which is expected to convene today, deviating from its usual Tuesday meeting due to the Eid Miladun Nabi holiday.
Political observers believe the government’s failure to table the amendment could open the door for judicial intervention—something the ruling coalition was keen to avoid. The amendments had been discussed in a special parliamentary committee meeting, but significant resistance from Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of JUI-F and a key figure in the Senate, stalled progress.
Tensions ran high as members of the committee, including representatives from the opposition PTI, expressed frustration at the lack of a draft to discuss. The deadlock persisted even after a nearly three-hour meeting, leaving the fate of the package uncertain.
Despite claims of having done their “homework,” the ruling coalition’s efforts to muster the required 224 votes in the National Assembly and 64 votes in the Senate fell short. While the coalition holds 52 votes in the Senate and could potentially reach the threshold with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s support, the National Assembly remains a challenge, where the coalition is still three votes shy of the necessary 224.
As the political impasse continues, all eyes are on today’s cabinet meeting and the sessions of both houses of parliament.
