Government Confident of Passing 27th Amendment in Senate

The government expressed confidence on Monday that it has secured the required 64 votes to pass the 27th constitutional amendment in the Senate. According to officials, the amendment bill will be tabled during the ongoing Senate session. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told reporters that the government has enough support to move forward. He said there was “no issue” and that the government was ready to proceed with the legislation.

Currently, the government and its allies hold 61 seats in the Senate. However, the Chairman of the Senate will not cast his vote, and PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui remains hospitalized due to illness. Despite these challenges, government sources remain optimistic about reaching the required two-thirds majority. They said negotiations with smaller parties and independent members have strengthened their position.

Officials revealed that the three senators from the Awami National Party (ANP) have agreed to support the amendment. In addition, Balochistan National Party’s Naseema Ahsan and independent Senator Asad Qasim Ronjho are also expected to vote in favor. With these votes, the government believes it will secure the “magic number” of 64. This support, they claim, will ensure smooth passage of the constitutional amendment through the upper house.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has strongly rejected the proposed 27th constitutional amendment. Opposition leaders met earlier and vowed to block the bill in the Senate. PTI Senator Ali Zafar said his party would “try utmost” to stop the legislation. He stressed that the opposition has opposed the bill since PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s statement about it. The senator added that anyone involved in wrongdoing should face punishment without exemption.

The Opposition has also called a joint session of its parliamentary parties from both the National Assembly and the Senate. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM today to finalize their strategy. Opposition members plan to protest inside and outside the Senate during the voting session. With both sides firm on their positions, today’s Senate session is expected to be tense and decisive for the government’s legislative agenda.

READ MORE : MQM, BAP Protest Exclusion from 27th Amendment Bill

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) expressed strong dissatisfaction over the exclusion of their proposals from the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill. During the recent federal cabinet session, both parties voiced concern that their suggestions were ignored despite earlier assurances from the government. Sources said MQM and BAP leaders felt their recommendations were essential for fair representation and better governance.

Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal led the protest, criticizing the government for excluding the local councils’ clause from the bill. He accused the government of breaking its promise and failing to honor earlier commitments. Kamal stressed that the proposed amendment was crucial to strengthen local governments and ensure better distribution of power. His remarks reflected MQM’s ongoing demand for practical empowerment of local bodies.