Negotiators from the government and opposition parties on Monday failed to break a deadlock on a constitutional amendment seeking legal protection for 28 parliamentarians suspended by the Supreme Court but decided to continue their dialogue in a desperate search for consensus.
Unable to secure the two-thirds majority needed for approval of a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly, the government once again shied away from presenting the 20th Amendment Bill on Monday and deferred the matter without giving an alternative time frame.
The 20th Amendment Bill is intended to provide legal cover to the actions of the chief election commissioner (CEC) during the time when the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was incomplete, as defined by the 18th Amendment.
The bill suggests an amendment to Article 219 of the Constitution that relates to “duties of the commission” through insertion of a new proviso: “Provided always that till such time the members of the commission are appointed in accordance with Article 218(2), the commissioner shall remain charged with the duties enumerated in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this article.”
Negotiations continued outside the parliament.
Meeting hours after the court’s decision earlier in the day, top leaders from across the political spectrum held a marathon meeting to discuss how to reach at some common ground on the amendment.
The PML-N had also called for appointing a new chief of the ECP to replace what it considers a ‘handpicked’ choice of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Furthermore, the opposition party wanted the government to enhance the tenure of ECP members from current two to five years.
Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the media after the meeting that talks had stalled because the government was not forthcoming in meeting the PML-N’s demands.
He said the government was trying to give extension to the current chief election commissioner which was not acceptable to the opposition. Chaudhry Nisar said his party wanted the appointment of election body chief after a “consensus” between the prime minister and opposition leader – and that mere “consultation” was not acceptable.
Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, who led the government negotiators, made an attempt to play down differences, claiming that talks were moving ahead positively and a breakthrough was expected shortly.
“Democracy flourishes with differences and such negotiations to overcome them … it is part of the game,” said Shah, painting a picture totally different from what Nisar portrayed.
Syed Naveed Qamar and Senator Raza Rabbani from the PPP and Senator Ishaq Dar and Khawja Asif from PML-N were also present in the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2012.
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How will the opposition support the wrong voter list elected cadidates?? Who will trust the opposition is future?? As it is opposition has already failed by not working side by side with the government ant stopping the 8500 billion spill, which has been done right under thier nose?? Supporting wrong moves will one day take its toll for Truth will prevail and then again we will be trials, but the money would be lost by then?? democracy is not another name for corruption?? so there is no danger at all. Let truth truimph and please Almighty Allah ??
Democracy should be saved
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is going to give a very tough time to PPP this time.
It will not be an easy task for PPP to get him along in the parliament to pass the 20th Amendment passed unanimously, as has been done previously.
n league about to play its role 'saving the system' - yet playing its due role in drama of 'friendly opposition' - its an ideal opposition not existed in test books of 'political science'.