PPP lawmaker Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday as part of the ruling coalition’s efforts for consensus on the constitutional amendments, which has kept the government on its toes since last weekend.
This comes after the federal government put off plans for the constitutional amendment for the time being after failing to gather the numbers required. Sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate have been postponed for an indefinite period.
Described as the “26th Constitutional Amendment”, the intended legislation is set to propose a fixed three-year tenure for the chief justice of Pakistan.
Although the legislation was initially scheduled to be introduced in the National Assembly and Senate today (Monday), the government was unable to present it over the weekend despite intensive efforts to secure the necessary support.
The details of the proposed amendments, which had largely been kept under wraps, were discussed during a special parliamentary committee meeting on Sunday night. The meeting aimed to bring the opposition on board, much to the dismay of both opposition members and government allies.
The PTI has voiced concerns over the lack of a draft presented during the three-hour meeting, claiming the government has made “all possible efforts” to prevent the introduction of the amendment package.
JUI-F votes in Parliament are crucial for the treasury benches in both houses of Parliament as sources within the government has claimed that it has ensured two votes from the opposition.
Fazl welcomed a Bilawal-led delegation at his residence. According to a JUI-F spokesperson, the delegation included Syed Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
JUI-F officials present at the meeting included Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Maulana Abdul Waseh, Maulana Asad Mahmood, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Mir Usman Badini, and Maulana Misbahuddin.
Prior to this meeting, Bilawal had a significant discussion with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, informing him about his earlier meeting with Fazl.
After the second meeting, PPP leader Shah addressed the media, emphasizing their personal relationship with Fazl.
Shah stated that they inquired if the JUI-F chairman had any proposals and expressed their willingness to work together to present a bill in Parliament. He reiterated the party’s commitment to legislating in accordance with the law and Constitution.
He added that Parliament has the right to legislate, stating, “No one can take this right away from us. Any bill that comes forward will be in accordance with the Constitution.”
Another PPP leader, Naveed Qamar, added that the party’s position was to bring amendments through consultation. He noted that the meeting was aimed at advancing the dialogue, expressing hope that they would complete the process through national consultation.
He went on to add that there was a consensus in the special committee on the constitutional amendment to address the contentious clauses in the intended legislation. Qamar described the discussions held “today as positive,” with hopes that sitting together would foster national consensus. Fazl also agreed to the approach, although he expressed concerns regarding the procedures of the constitutional court.
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After the meeting, JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza told reporters about the issues surrounding Article 8 (Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights to be void) and Article 199 (Jurisdiction of High Court).
He stated that “examining the restrictions and hardships outlined in such articles would clarify the concerns at hand.” He suggested that if certain exemptions provided in such articles were removed, the outcomes could be significant.
Senator Murtaza further noted that the PPP has committed to sharing its draft with the JUI-F. He mentioned that “once the PPP sends its draft via WhatsApp, they will review it together.” He added that he has already provided his recommendations to Fazl, but the final decision rests with the JUI-F chief.
