Tighter security and restricted entry for National Assembly session

Strict security arrangements have been made for today’s session of Pakistan’s National Assembly, with guest entry strictly prohibited, according to the Assembly's spokesperson.

Only media representatives holding full-session press gallery cards issued by the Directorate General of Media, National Assembly Secretariat, will be allowed to enter Parliament House, Express News reported.

In a move to tighten regulations, the issuance of one-day press gallery cards has been halted.

For those covering the session, entry at Parliament’s Gate 1 will be limited to cameramen on pre-approved lists. Journalists are advised to carry their press gallery cards due to security considerations.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s 9-point agenda for today’s session has been released. Notably, the 26th Constitutional Amendment is absent. The agenda includes the 2024 Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill, which will be presented for approval.

Additionally, a call attention notice addressing widespread fraud and theft in General Sales Tax collection, submitted by members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), will be discussed during the session.

Today’s National Assembly session will begin at 6 pm, while the Senate session is scheduled for 3 pm.

The constitutional amendments, were expected to be presented in parliament, after a series of high-level meetings at Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s residence in Islamabad.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s residence became a political hub on Saturday, with key figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, and Balochistan National Party (Mengal) leader Akhtar Mengal all visiting for discussions.

Previously Fazlur Rehman stated that PTI had requested time to finalise its stance on the constitutional amendment. He added that after receiving their response, the bill will be presented in parliament for consensus approval.

However, earlier today PTI decided to boycott the voting process in the National Assembly and Senate concerning the 26th Constitutional Amendments.

The decision was announced in a statement following a meeting of the party's political committee.

The PTI statement emphasised that the party would not be part of what it termed a "non-transparent" and "controversial" process of amending the constitution. It declared a complete boycott of the voting process in both houses of Parliament.

However, yesterday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had cautioned the opposition that if his one last bid to persuade them to vote for the much-touted 26th constitutional amendment failed, he would go ahead with the option of amending the Constitution with a two-thirds majority.

The PPP's leader humbly urged the JUI-F to send its lawmakers to cast their votes in favour of the amendment and to also try to bring PTI MNAs to the National Assembly to do the same. "But if my last attempt fails, we should pray for democracy, for the federation, for political stability and for the integrity of Pakistan."