“I just wanted to say that my institution and I stand behind this book,” Justice Qazi Faez said, holding a copy of the constitution in his hand.

Justice Isa made a surprise appearance at the convention marking the golden jubilee of the 1973 constitution held in the National Assembly hall on Monday but had to clarify twice that he was there only to commemorate the constitution and did not endorse any political speeches.

“After Allah, this book [Constitution] is the shade we all live in. It is our identity,” he said.

Justice Isa said that he had appeared in the convention because other senior judges had not been able to make an appearance.

“I want to clarify that I do not agree with the political speeches made here today,” Justice Isa added. He added that Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had assured him no political speeches would be made.

“Tomorrow, some of you might come to the court and tell me you had invited me here but I still ruled against you,” he added leading to laughter in the hall.

Justice Isa said that his father was a key aide of the Quaid-e-Azam and had led the Muslim League in Balochistan and what was then the North West Frontier Province. He added that the whole purpose of getting an independent country was to make sure that we learnt from our own mistakes and made our own decisions.

He added that it was important to familiarise the country’s children with the constitution and appreciated the fact that the resolution had been planned to introduce the teaching of the Constitution in schools.

‘Allied parties will go into election on their respective manifestoes’

The Golden Jubilee Convention of the 1973 Constitution on Monday, pledging to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution in letter and spirit, called upon the state organs to take all necessary measures to ensure its full implementation and safeguard the rights and interests of the people of Pakistan.

The resolution, presented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and unanimously adopted by the Convention held here at the National Assembly Hall, emphasised the importance of upholding the principles of federalism as one of the fundamental tenets of the Constitution.

Before reading out the resolution, the prime minister paid tribute to the framers of the 1973 Constitution who set aside their political differences and got united for sake of the country – an achievement to be remembered forever.

Calling April 10, 1973 an important day in the country’s history, he said despite multiple amendments made from time to time, the Constitution was still a living document.

Attended by the parliamentarians from both Houses of Parliament, legal and constitutional experts, educationists, and prominent figures from different fields of life, the Convention also declared April 10, 2023, as the National Constitution Day, “to be celebrated each year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of 1973 and to educate the people of Pakistan about the Constitution and its significance for the country.”

PM Shehbaz said the day also reminded the nation as how in 1955, the doctrine of necessity was invented and how a chief justice of that time gave a three-year extension to a dictator. Similarly, he said the Constitution was rewritten from time to time, he added.

The prime minister, also recalled that a year ago, the coalition parties formed their government through a constitutional process despite numerous challenges inherited from the previous government.

He said though the allied parties would go into the election on their respective manifestoes while being part of the coalition government, they were united to save the country.

He saluted the framers of the Constitution, congratulated the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms headed by Senator Raza Rabbani Committee and also National Assembly Speaker for holding the Convention to celebrate the 50 years of the 1973 Constitution which kept the whole nation united despite ethnic and political diversities.

The Convention reiterated that the Constitution of 1973 was adopted on April 10, 1973, by the National Assembly of Pakistan, representing the will and aspirations of the people of Pakistan which reflected the vision of the founding fathers of Pakistan and embodied the principles of democracy, equality, freedom, and justice.

“Whereas, the Constitution of 1973 has been a unique expression of the diversity and unity of Pakistan, as it recognizes the rights and autonomy of the provinces while ensuring the integrity and political unity of the federation… has been a source of inspiration and guidance for the Parliament, Judiciary and the Executive in upholding the principles of constitutionalism, rule of law and protection of human rights,” the resolution added.

Bilawal, Zardari call for negotiations to solve crisis

PPP leaders Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari have called for negotiations to solve the ongoing political crises in the country.

“The door for negotiation should always remain open,” Bilawal said while addressing the convention to mark 50 years of the passing of the 1973 constitution.

Asif Zardari also welcomed the option of dialogue in his speech but added that any attempt would have to come through Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif since he was in charge of the government.

Bilawal also recounted the history of the attacks against the constitution, adding that a ‘selected raj’ had been imposed in the country and its remains were still doing their work despite the no-confidence vote that removed Imran Khan.

He also added that the ongoing divisions within the superior judiciary could only be fixed if the institution sat down among itself and tried to fix things.

“Some people are trying to tell us that two and two make three,” he said while referring to the current debate over whether the decision in the election delay case was 4:3 or 3:2.