By Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has aimed Maulana Fazlur Rehman for not providing the necessary support for the government’s proposed constitutional amendments. In a statement to reporters outside the Parliament House on Sunday, Asif expressed concerns that the situation regarding the required votes for the amendments would become clearer by Monday morning.
Asif indicated that there might be difficulties in securing the necessary votes. “It seems that we do not have the numbers,” he said. “I have been present in the National Assembly since this morning, and while I cannot confirm the exact numbers, it appears we were short, which is why the legislation has not progressed.”
In his earlier address to the media, Asif also addressed the confusion surrounding Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s term extension, asserting that the reports about it were inaccurate. He added, “Whatever is happening is for the greater good, and even if our intentions are questioned, we are working correctly. We hope that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will support us with his vote.”
Meanwhile, the Senate and National Assembly sessions, which were scheduled to discuss these critical constitutional amendments, have been postponed until 12:30 pm on Monday.
It is noteworthy that the government had actively sought Rehman’s support for these amendments through multiple meetings. Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had separately engaged with Rehman to garner his backing.
