PM Shehbaz cancels ministers' visits amid efforts for consensus on 27th amendment

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cancelled all official visits of ministers and members of parliament in light of the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.

According to sources, the prime minister has directed all ministers and lawmakers to remain in Islamabad. He has also assigned National Assembly speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, a key task of building consensus among all political parties on the amendment.

Sources further revealed that the Speaker has convened a meeting of all parliamentary leaders today (Wednesday) at 4 p.m. in the Speaker’s Lounge. Parliamentary leaders from major parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), along with chief whips of allied parties, have been invited to attend.

During the meeting, a briefing on the features of the constitutional amendment will be given, and the government’s strategy for its approval will be finalized. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is expected to urge all political parties to support the amendment and will also hold separate meetings with parliamentary leaders in his chamber.

Sources added that if consensus is not achieved, the government will rely on its own numerical strength in the National Assembly. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has instructed all its members and those of allied parties to reach Islamabad immediately.

Parliamentary sources said the ruling coalition currently enjoys the support of 224 members in the National Assembly—sufficient for the passage of the constitutional amendment.