Opposition forms committee to challenge constitutional amendments in SC

Joint session of parliament being held in National Assembly today to pass amendments

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition on Wednesday formed a committee to challenge the constitutional amendments put forward by the incumbent government in the Supreme Court (SC).

A joint session of the parliament is underway in the National Assembly (NA) today to pass the controversial amendments, including the electoral reforms bill that include the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general elections, by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

Read: 'Unilateral electoral reforms': Opposition lambasts govt in crucial joint session

The opposition parties’ strong objections to the government bills and amendments continue unabated, as even today, they are set to oppose the bills in the parliament.

Following a meeting ahead of the session, the opposition decided to challenge the constitutional amendments in the SC and set up a committee, which includes PPP leaders Farooq Naik and Kamran Murtaza, and PML-N's Ata Tarar.

The nerve-wracking contest in the parliament has begun with the NA Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif calling EVMs "evil and vicious machines."

Read In today’s joint sitting, a close contest expected

According to the data obtained from political parties, the ruling party and its allies have a total of 221 voters, including 179 MNAs and 42 senators.

The opposition, on the other hand, has a total of 219 members, including 162 MNAs and 57 senators.

However, according to sources, there is a strong possibility that four votes of the opposition and two votes of the government will be reduced in the joint session.

Two members of the parliament from the ruling coalition, Faisal Sabzwari and Khalid Magsi, were unable to return to Pakistan in time, while PPP's Syed Naveed Qamar from the opposition was diagnosed with dengue and will not be able to attend the session.

Other opposition members, PPP MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur and BNP's Akhtar Jan Mengal were unable to reach the parliament, while Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement's (PTM) leader Ali Wazir will not participate due to the non-issuance of production orders.

The joint sitting will take up 59 items, including roughly two dozen bills.