Ayaz Sadiq to Lead Consultations with Political Parties Including PTI and JUI-F
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq with building political consensus on the 27th Constitutional Amendment, sources told Geo News on Wednesday. The move aims to unify major political forces ahead of the crucial vote on the government’s proposed constitutional reforms.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government seeks broad political agreement on key amendments, including the establishment of a Constitutional Court, changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, and revisions to Article 243, which governs the supreme command of Pakistan’s armed forces. The amendment also proposes the reintroduction of executive magistrates, new provisions for judicial transfers, and adjustments to provincial financial protections under the NFC Award.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that discussions are ongoing with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other coalition allies, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Awami National Party (ANP), and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), before finalizing the draft amendment.
Speaker Calls All-Party Meeting to Seek Agreement
According to parliamentary sources, Speaker Sadiq has convened a meeting of all parliamentary leaders at the Parliament House to discuss the amendment and form a joint strategy. Invitations have been sent to leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), along with coalition party representatives.
Participants will be briefed on the amendment’s contours and asked to provide input. If consensus cannot be reached, sources said, “the government will rely on its own numbers in the National Assembly.” Sadiq is also expected to hold one-on-one meetings with key opposition leaders before the joint session.
The ruling coalition has directed all its members to remain in Islamabad ahead of the session to ensure maximum attendance during the vote.
Government Confident of Majority Support in Parliament
Parliamentary data shows that the government currently enjoys 237 votes in the National Assembly, comfortably above the 224 votes required for a constitutional amendment. The PML-N holds 125 seats, the PPP 74, the MQM-P 22, the PML-Q five, and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) four. One member each from PML-Zia, National Party, and BAP, along with four independents, also support the coalition.
In the Senate, the ruling alliance holds 61 members, while the opposition has 35. To pass the amendment, the government needs a two-thirds majority (64 votes), requiring support from at least three senators from the JUI-F or ANP.
MQM-P Backs Reforms for Better Governance
MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed support for the amendment, saying it aims to “improve governance and strengthen provincial harmony.” Speaking outside Parliament alongside Dr Farooq Sattar, Siddiqui noted that the proposed reforms would enhance judicial efficiency and protect citizens’ rights.
Sattar added that the amendment should promote local autonomy, building on the 18th Amendment’s provincial autonomy. “Parliament must now empower local governments to solve public problems,” he said, emphasizing that the reforms should reflect the spirit of democratic devolution.
Vawda Meets Maulana Fazlur Rehman for Consultations
Separately, Senator Faisal Vawda met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad to discuss the amendment’s clauses. Speaking to reporters, Vawda said, “Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a seasoned leader who always stands by Pakistan. Our discussion focused on national stability, not political numbers.”
He claimed the government has “more than sufficient numbers” to pass the amendment and stressed that Article 243 covers ground, cyber, and economic defence — requiring modern updates. Vawda also assured that the 18th Amendment was not being rolled back but “reviewed through mutual consultation.”
Urging PTI to engage constructively in the debate, he warned that “negative politics will only harm the country.”
