ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned separate sessions of National Assembly and Senate on Thursday (tomorrow).

The Senate will meet at 3 pm and the National Assembly at 4 pm.

According to details, the draft for the 26th amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan will be presented before the lower house of Parliament on October 18. Lawmakers have been instructed to arrive in Islamabad tomorrow.

The federal government plans to first pass the 26th constitutional amendment in the Senate, with the upper house session expected to be called on October 17. The National Assembly session has already been scheduled for October 18 to pass the proposed amendments, with the government aiming to secure Senate approval a day before the NA vote.

On Monday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that political parties are close to reaching a consensus on the constitutional amendments.

Speaking to the media, the JUI-F leader said an agreement had been formed regarding the drafts shared among the parties. “I will meet with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, and the PTI leadership,” said Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He mentioned plans to meet Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Karachi, visit Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, and hold discussions with PTI leaders in Islamabad.

Sources indicate that more than 20 clauses are expected to be part of the proposed changes, which will impact key articles in Pakistan’s Constitution, including Articles 51, 63, 175, and 187. One of the amendments focuses on increasing representation for Balochistan in the provincial assembly, proposing to raise the number of seats from 65 to 81 to ensure better representation in legislative matters.