Seven govt MNAs to vote against constitutional amendments: Barrister Gohar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has claimed that seven members from the treasury benches will not vote in favor of the 26th constitutional amendments, for which the government is trying every possible step to achieve a two-thirds majority.

To pass the much-talked constitutional amendments, the government requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, with sources indicating a govt short with 13 votes in the National Assembly and nine in the Senate.

Taking to a private channel, Barrister Gohar said “The govt’s numbers are only complete in their books,” adding that the reliable sources informed him that the seven government lawmakers have decided to vote against the constitutional package in parliament.

The Special Committee of the parliament met again today to discuss the draft of the proposed constitutional amendments before the national assembly session summoned to meet today.

Earlier, PTI sought additional time to present its own draft of constitutional amendments on Wednesday, which is expected to be submitted today.

‘Consensus is being misinterpreted’

In a media talk after the special committee meeting, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said the reports regarding the government reached a consensus with JUI-F over the proposed constitutional tweak are misinterpreted.

He said the Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not yet shown a willingness to agree to the government’s draft, adding that members of JUI-F have been threatening to oppose the constitutional package.

Omar Ayub said he told the committee about the abduction of Zain Qureishi, Miqdad Ali Khan, the fascist raids on the homes of all our MNAs, and the enforced disappearances of our colleagues.

PTI leader added that coercive tactics were being used against his party members and others for opposing the proposed constitutional amendments.

He added that several PTI lawmakers and their family members were kidnapped, and a raid was carried out at my house.

“Told the Law Minister that he is responsible for all these abhorrent actions of the intelligence agencies (ISI, MI, IB, FIU, SB) and if he is not responsible then who is ordering these fascist abhorrent actions through the intelligence agencies because all these agencies come under the government and the fascist form 47 government of Shahbaz Sharif is and will be held responsible,” he wrote on X.

Taking on X, he said, “This Special Committee is ignoring its primary function and is not working on holding those intelligence agencies people responsible who attacked Parliament and illegally arrested PTI MNAs.”

On the other hand, PML-N senator Irfan Siddique, in a media talk, said govt is very close to a consensus, it’s just a breath away.