Demarcation of constituencies: Govt to get bill passed through joint parliament session

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government plans to have a constitutional bill for the delimitation of constituencies passed through parliament by November 10, 2017.

“The federal government is in touch with parliamentary parties and PML-N is trying to get the bill passed by November 10 so that the general elections can be held on time,” Senator Mushahidullah Khan told the Daily Express. 

If, however, the National Assembly and Senate both fail to pass the bill, a joint parliamentary session, in consultation with like-minded parties, will be called, he added.

Key ministers have already contacted members of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), seeking their support on the proposed bill.

PPP plans ‘national electoral alliance’ against PTI

All the parties, except the PPP, have expressed their willingness to support the bill. The PTI, however, has clarified to the government that the reservations on the bill by the PPP and other political parties should be immediately addressed. An important minister is already in touch with Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah.

“If PPP and the other parties did not cooperate, a joint meeting of the parliament will be called to have the ‘Constitutional Bill of Demarcation of Constituencies’ passed and the government will try to get it passed before the stipulated date by the election commission,” the senator upheld.

“The bill will be passed by a unanimous vote so that no questions are raised on the demarcation of constituencies later.”

Sources close to the ruling party told the Daily Express that the party leadership has reviewed hindrances that may obstruct the passing of the bill. Party leaders have taken notice of the reservations raised by the PPP and have made the approval conditional pending on the bill being passed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The election authorities, on October 31, warned the government that they would be unable to conduct the general elections on time unless the parliament amended the constitutional clause regarding delimitation of constituencies by the November 10 deadline.

After thoroughly reviewing varying legal and political aspects, the PML-N leadership has planned to have the bill passed through three phases: the first option will be to have it passed with the required majority. In case the bill is passed, it will immediately be tabled in the Senate and be passed again through a required majority, said the party sources. If, however, both the National Assembly and the Senate fail to pass the bill, a joint parliamentary session will be called as a last resort.

‘PTI not to accept delay in general elections’

According to sources, the PPP has now called a party meeting for consultation while other political parties have expressed their eagerness to support the ruling party. The PTI has, however, demanded that the proposed bill should be passed by the CCI before it is presented in the parliament.

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