The 28th constitutional package remains on the backburner as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) grapples with internal coalition disagreements over clauses related to provincial boundaries and parliamentary tenure, senior parliamentarians revealed during background discussions.
Coalition Dynamics and Legislative Challenges
Throughout any government's tenure, numerical strength in Parliament cannot be ignored, as supporting allies have rarely been on the same page with the ruling party. The current government is an amalgamation of different political forces, with PML-N as the ruling party needing to keep aware of its allied partners' political moves in all actions. Legislation on any constitutional amendment has always been a challenge for the dominant party, as it must accept some allied demands in return for their support.
Though PML-N is interested in approving important changes to the existing constitution, it must avoid the label of a 'new constitutional amendment'. Senior parliamentarians from the ruling party plan to describe proposed changes as an extension of the 27th Amendment.
Allied Partners' Stance
Main coalition partners, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), have not yet given their final nod to vote on the constitutional package. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has not hinted at his stance to the media. "President Zardari and I remain in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but the government has not contacted the PPP regarding any constitutional amendment," Bhutto shared with the press recently.
MQM-P has also dodged media inquiries about its clear stance, as its leadership pursues the re-appointment of Tessori as Governor Sindh and legislation on Local Government (LG) polls. In this situation, the ruling party faces difficulty presenting the controversial package.
Historical Context and Numerical Strength
The proposed amendment was earlier relegated to a secondary focus due to the Middle East crisis, where Pakistan played a mediator role between Iran and the US. The ruling clique now needs to be on the same page to ensure numerical strength in Parliament, as opposition benches are set to block all government moves.
Political pundits view that the final draft will land in Parliament only after evolving consensus. The draft contains controversial schemes that cannot easily be accepted by allies, including changes in demographic boundaries, more judicial empowerment to impose 'Governor Rule', and reducing the government's term from five to four years.
Provincial Status and New Provinces
The main amendment relates to carving out new provinces, including a proposal to grant Karachi provincial status. However, bringing the main coalition partner on the same page will not be an easy task. Former Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Kanwar Dilshad shared that the 28th constitutional amendment is on the backburner.
During the 27th constitutional amendment legislation, the government successfully achieved a two-thirds majority in both houses. In the 336-member National Assembly, the ruling coalition had 233 members, while the opposition held 103. Within allied partners, PML-N had 125 seats, PPP 74, MQM 22, PML-Q five, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party four, and PML-Z, Awami Balochistan Party, and National Peoples Party one seat each. The tally easily reached a two-thirds majority in the lower house.
Upper House and Opposition Support
Though the ruling alliance in the upper house, comprising 96 members, did not enjoy a two-thirds majority, it achieved the target. Therefore, the government must seek help from some opposition members if it succeeds in convincing its allies to introduce the 28th constitutional package.
