NA panel on tweaks meets today

A special committee of the National Assembly has scheduled a meeting for today (Friday) to restart discussions on the proposed 26th Constitutional Amendment, reliable sources told The Express Tribune on Thursday.

The meeting will be chaired by Syed Khursheed Shah, chairman of the Special Committee. Notices have been issued to all parliamentary leaders from both the government and the opposition.

The proposed draft of the 26th Constitutional Amendment is expected to be presented at the meeting, where both the government and opposition will submit their respective drafts for review. The committee will then examine the drafts and discuss potential amendments.

Sources said significant consultation between the government and opposition on the amendment will take place today at parliament, with participation restricted to members of the assembly.

Joint sitting

The PML-N-led federal government is likely to convene a joint sitting of parliament on Monday evening, October 14, during the visit of the Chinese prime minister to Pakistan.

The National Assembly speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, has cancelled his scheduled visit to Geneva, Switzerland, where he was to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference between October 13 and 17.

It is speculated that the cancellation is due to the planned sitting, during which the government is expected to present a contentious constitutional amendment package, dubbed the 26th amendment.

The government has, so far, been unable to secure the support of JUI-F, a party that could play a key role in the passage of the amendment package, as the government and its allies currently lack the two-thirds majority required in parliament.

The IPU is an international organization that fosters parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue across countries. Established in 1889, the IPU works to promote democratic governance, accountability, and cooperation among the world's parliaments.