PPP not to back 22nd Amendment, govt told

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that the government has received the PPP response over the constitutional amendment. He said the People’s Party will not back the constitutional amendment for Senate polls.

Ashraf questioned the PTI’s stance over the matter, which is backing the government for the constitutional amendment.

He said the two different laws could not be made for the same matter. When the people casting their votes by secret ballot why open ballot for the legislators, he asked.

The people will not accept any amendment to secure personal gains, the former prime minister added.

The government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has proposed 22nd amendment in the constitution amid apprehensions about horse trading during the elections of the upper house of the parliament.

The government’s proposed draft of the 22nd Amendment introduces change in the voting procedure from ‘secret ballot’ to ‘open ballot’.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have announced to support the proposed constitutional legislation.

PPP had extended the much needed support to the PML-N government during the sit-ins of Pakitan Awami Tehreek and PTI and during the passage of the 21st Amendment for formation of the military courts. This time, however, the PPP has opposed the government move to amend the constitution. The party has instead suggested the government to consult with other political parties to evade the horse trading.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a coalition partner of the PML-N has also opposed the government’s move to amend the voting procedure for Senate Polls.

The government is expected to move the 22nd Constitutional Amendment bill in the parliament on Monday.