PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman arrived at the Sharif brothers’ Jati Umra residence in Lahore on Wednesday to discuss the Article 26 constitutional amendment bill. .
The much-talked-about constitutional package is a bill that proposes a series of constitutional amendments, including extending the term of office of Supreme Court justices.
Three separate drafts of the constitutional package were being prepared. One was created by the government, the second by the PPP and the third by the JUI-F. The committee, headed by Khurshid Shah of the PPP, represents all political parties, including the PTI. The organization was established by the Speaker of the National Assembly in the wake of the roundup of PTI men from the National Assembly building by plainclothes men with the aim of creating reconciliation among members of Parliament, especially between the PTI and the government.
The PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) reached an agreement on a common draft the previous day. Although the main points of the constitutional package were not disclosed, Mr. Fazl had rejected previous drafts and made it clear that he would not compromise on the supremacy of parliament or the essence of the constitution.
Apparently, Mr. Fazl showed some flexibility in his talks with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, with the two leaders agreeing to jointly draft the amendments and pledging to try to build consensus among other parliamentary parties.
In the same vein of broadening consensus, Mr. Fazl and Senator Kamran Murtaza arrived at the Sharif family’s home and attended a dinner hosted by PML-N Chairman Nawaz Sharif in honor of the political leader.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and others also welcomed the JUI-F delegation.
Separately, Bilawal and President Asif Ali Zardari also met on Jati Umra and discussed constitutional reforms and the political situation in the country.
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and other leaders also attended the meeting.
PTI expresses opposition to package, calls for Friday protest
Meanwhile, the PTI’s political committee announced it opposes the constitutional amendment and on Friday called for more nationwide protests against the proposal and the jailing of party founder Imran Khan.
“All regional and local organizations are directed to hold vigorous and peaceful protests at all district headquarters after Friday prayers. We will not accept any attempt by the government to distort the Constitution through constitutional amendments. “We fully agree on this,” the party said.
He called on all segments of society who “believe in the supremacy of the Constitution” to take part in peaceful protests.
The political committee also agreed to make every effort to prevent the amendment from passing in parliament.
However, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said there was nothing wrong with the JUI-F’s draft constitution package and said that with Fazl’s efforts, the constitution might not be “so badly undermined”. added.
Speaking on Geo News program Capital Talk, Mr. Raja said that the PTI does not recognize the privilege of the current parliament to amend the constitution.
“We have been working with Fazl and JUI-F in this process,” Mr. Raja said. “They understand our stance and now it’s coming to the fore.”
When asked if he was objecting to the Constitutional Tribunal rather than the courts, Mr. Raja replied:
“Of course, judges have to go there from the Supreme Court. If there’s anything wrong with moving judges away from constitutional reviewers, it’s a mistake.”
He said the JUI-F draft was “excellent”, adding that the party recommended that the top five Supreme Court judges form the bench. “This is not a party position. As a party position, we do not accept this privilege, but we will actively speak out and discuss it.”
Akhtar Mengal claims to have attacked lodge
Separately, Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal claimed that his lodge in Islamabad was attacked.
“Our party’s senator Naseema Ehsan was locked up in her apartment and her son was kidnapped. Meanwhile, another senator from our party, Qasim Runjo, went to Islamabad for dialysis at 8am. But since then, he and his son have gone missing. Is this what democracy looks like?
Lawyer Sajid Tareen, deputy central chairman of the party, said: “Islamabad police just came to Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s apartment where I am currently staying and informed me that they were receiving an intelligence report against the occupants of the apartment… I told the police to inform them.” Tell the intelligence agency to come and talk to me. ”
He said he is not afraid of such tactics. “Their problem is that I am doing my best to maintain the party’s position so that party senators are not under any pressure when voting on the Constitutional Court proposal,” he added.
Mengal had made similar claims the previous day that senators were being harassed.
Additional reporting by Nadir Gramani.
