The National Assembly and Senate are scheduled to meet in separate sessions today (Thursday) following the recent passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the National Assembly at 5:00 pm, exercising his powers under Article 54(1) of the Constitution. This will mark the 22nd session of the current assembly. The government has reportedly prepared a comprehensive legislative agenda, with the National Assembly set to take up a 15-point agenda, according to the NA Secretariat. A joint sitting of both Houses is also planned, and the sessions are expected to continue until mid-December. Well-placed parliamentary sources indicated that the government does not plan to introduce the much-speculated 28th Constitutional Amendment during these sessions. Law and order issues, as well as key foreign policy matters, will also be discussed separately in the two Houses. The recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment, approved by a majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate, brought significant changes to the judicial structure and military command. Following its passage, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah stated that the 28th Constitutional Amendment is expected to be introduced soon, expressing confidence that it would also pass in parliament. Today’s National Assembly session will be chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, while the Deputy Chairman Senate Saidal Khan will preside over the Senate proceedings. Notably, this marks the fifth consecutive session without opposition leaders in both Houses. Meanwhile, PTI founder Imran Khan has nominated Mahmood Khan Achakzai for the National Assembly and Raja Nasir Abbas for the Senate, though both are not members of the opposition’s majority party in either House. Their appointment carries some technical snags and it is unlikely that the upcoming session will see them as leaders. The newly elected members of the National Assembly will also take oath of the membership during the session and the exercise is expected to take place next week, once the Election Commission of Pakistan notifies their election. Sources indicated that the PTI members would create rumpus and hinder the proceedings on account of the by-election’s outcome and Imran’s incarceration.
Parliament to meet today after the 27th Constitutional Amendment
