Though the 20th Constitution (Amendment) Bill could not win a unanimous vote in the Senate on Monday due to opposition from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) members, it was a win for the senators, especially those retiring in the next month, when they secured maximum possible out of the ‘legislation deal’ by making the government release their development funds and notify same perks and privileges for the retired ones as were being enjoyed by the sitting senators in exchange for their support for the bill.
Before going to vote on the bill, the senators were handed out copies of a notification to assure them that each retired senator and his spouse would enjoy the perks and privileges of a sitting senator.
Around 60 other senators were given copies of letters to make known to them that their lapsed funds – of around Rs 360 million – had been restored and released for development in their respective areas as a “goodwill gesture” for their support for the legislation.
JI senators Prof Khurshid Ahmad and Prof Ibrahim Khan severely opposed the bill as a “law of necessity” and an “attempt to indemnify a violation of the constitution”, as the voting ended in 74 votes in favour of the bill and two against it.
All amendments proposed in the bill by Prof Khurshid were rejected by a majority vote. He was opposed to the validation of the 28 by-polls held when the Election Commission was incomplete, saying the 28 parliamentarians should get themselves re-elected.
He also objected to the National Assembly speaker’s discretionary powers for constituting the committee to recommend the name of the caretaker prime minister, saying the relevant clause was vague and did not mention from which House of parliament the speaker would choose members of the committee.
Govt makes an offer senators can’t resist
