ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The ruling alliance and the opposition parties will lock horn at an all-important Joint Session of the Parliament in Islamabad on Wednesday which may turn out to be a landmark day in the Country’s political history.
The Joint Session of the Parliament will start at 12.00 noon and take up important legislation including the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Elections Second Amendment Bill 2021.
These electoral reforms bills provide for the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the elections besides granting the right of vote to Overseas Pakistanis.
The Parliament consisting of both the Senate and the National Assembly has a total of 442 members. However currently, one MNA seat is vacant after the death of Pervaiz Malik while Ishaq Dar’s membership as Senator is suspended; therefore, the total numbers shrink to 440.
Though the ruling alliance led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has a slight edge with 221 votes over the opposition parties which have 219 members; however, an upset can’t be ruled out.
Party Positions in Parliament:
| Ruling Alliance Members | Opposition Members |
| PTI – 183 | PML-N – 99 |
| MQM – 10 | PPP – 71 |
| PML-Q – 06 | MMA – 21 |
| BAP – 14 | BNP – 06 |
| GDA – 04 | ANP – 03 |
| IND – 02 | IND – 03 |
| AML – 01 | NP – 02 |
| JWP – 01 | PKMAP – 02 |
| Others – 06 | |
| Total: 221 | Total: 219 |
Earlier in the day, in a Tweet, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said that the PTI will fulfill another election promise when the Parliament today will pass a law granting the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis.
The minister said that the laws regarding the use of electronic voting machines in elections and the right of vote to Overseas Pakistanis will prove to be a milestone in strengthening democracy in the Country.
انشاللہ آج پارلیمان اوْورسیز پاکستانیوں کو انتخابات میں ووٹ ڈالنے کی سہولت کا قانون پاس کر کے تحریک انصاف ایک اور انتخابی وعدے کی تکمیل کرے گی، الیکٹرونک ووٹنگ مشین اور اوورسیز پاکستانیوں کے ووٹ کا قانون پاکستان میں جمہوریت کو مضبوط بنانے کیلئے سنگ میل ثابت ہوں گے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 17, 2021
