"My religion doesn't allow it:" PTI's Gurdeep Singh refuses to support 26th Constitutional Amendment despite pressure

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Gurdeep Singh reportedly refused to vote in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, despite facing pressure and attempts to change his political allegiance.

Journalist Hamid Mir shared a post on X, claiming that Mr Singh, the first turban-clad Sikh senator in Pakistan, “was also approached before the 26th amendment to vote for the government but he politely refused. He said I can’t betray my party.”

Senator Gurdeep Singh is from ⁦@PTIofficial⁩ he was also approached before the 26th amendment to vote for the government but he politely refused. He said I can’t betray my party. pic.twitter.com/6a3j19P8pY

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) October 22, 2024

Journalist Ather Kazmi made a similar claim in a vlog on X, where he revealed that a minority representative had received lucrative offers to 'compromise' and go against his party. However, the senator declined such overtures.

"My religion does not allow it," he was quoted as saying by the journalist.

The National Assembly passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill on Monday, aimed at capping parliamentary checks on the judiciary. Out of 237 members, 12 opposed the motion, while 225 voted in favor, including four PTI-backed MNAs.

PTI lawmakers Zahoor Qureshi, Aurangzeb Khichi, Usman Ali, and Mubarak Zeb cast their votes in support of the constitutional changes, and a PML-Q representative also endorsed the amendment.

Amid the months-long debate over the legislation, several lawmakers from opposition parties alleged that they were facing pressure to change their stance and violate party guidelines to support the bill.

Balochistan National Party (BNP-M), whose chief Akhtar Mengal opposed the 26th amendment, also claimed that its members were coerced into voting for the bill.

Senators Muhammad Qasim and Naseema Ehsan, representing BNP, defied the party’s stance and supported the amendment.