- Fazal warns that JUI-F will reject the initial draft if it is submitted again.
- PTI cannot remain informed of constitutional amendment, says PTI.
- Demands that the government increase its representation in special committees
After engaging the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in an hour-long discussion, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman confirmed that consultations on the proposed 26th Constitutional Amendment are progressing. But he stressed that the government does not take the reconciliatory approach followed by the opposition seriously.
Speaking to the media along with PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan and other party leaders in Islamabad late on Thursday, the JUI-F chief said: “We are dealing with the government with a completely open heart.”
However, he warned at the same time that if the federal government presented the same draft as before, “we will reject it again.”
Rahman (71 years old) reiterated that his party rejected the initial draft of the government and it is still unacceptable to him.
“We still reject the initial draft today,” he added, but also noted that “some issues are still open for discussion.” Maulana Fazil also referred to his recent meeting with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, where they reached consensus on several matters related to the constitutional package.
However, he stressed the importance of reaching a unanimous amendment, and urged the government to involve all opposition parties.
He also stressed that other stakeholders and special representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association should be included in the special committee overseeing the constitutional amendment process.
During the press conference, the JUI-F president expressed concerns about the alleged harassment of opposition members, saying: “On the one hand, negotiations are taking place, and on the other hand, members are being kidnapped and offered huge incentives.”
He added that the coalition government does not take the opposition’s conciliatory approach seriously.
Echoing Fazal’s concerns, lawyer Johar said that “our senators and assembly members are being harassed” and warned that the PTI movement may not be able to move forward if the government’s position remains unchanged.
They also lauded the positive stance of PTI during the discussions on the constitutional amendment, adding that both parties will continue the discussion today.
He added that the PTI movement cannot remain in the dark about the constitutional amendment.
He expressed his hope for progress, saying: “We want to see a change in the situation by morning.”
Fazal also called on the PPP and the PML-N-led government to increase representation in the special committee.
Maulana Fazl also said that his party has issued notices to all members of Parliament under Article 63(A).
He stressed that “our members are obligated to vote in accordance with the party’s decision.”
Advocate Johar confirmed that similar directions had been issued to PTI MPs as well, saying: “PTI has instructed its members to vote in accordance with the party’s decision.”
“If the amendment is passed forcefully, we will declare that this Parliament has no right to legislate,” the JUI-F president warned.
The senior leaders fail to convince Fadl overnight
In their latest efforts to win the support of the JUI-F chief, senior political leaders including Prime Minister Shibaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar arrived at the conference. JUI-F chief’s residence in Islamabad in the early hours of Friday morning.
After an hour-long discussion, the high-level delegation left Fadl’s house. Sources familiar with the developments told Geo News that the JUI-F president strongly objected to the fact that the ruling coalition sought his support on the constitutional amendment on the one hand, and on the other hand, members of his party in Parliament were kidnapped.
The veteran politician indicated that his party’s representative, Mufti Abdul Shakur, is still missing and that his family is at his residence.
Senior leaders gave assurances to the JUI-F leader to persuade him to agree to the maximum number of proposals in the constitutional amendment. However, the JUI-F leader remained firm on his stand, insisting that the government first produce his party’s legislators.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly session has been rescheduled from 11am to 6pm today, according to a notification from the National Assembly Secretariat.
‘Consensus on judicial reforms’
Earlier in the day, all political parties, including the opposition, finally reached a consensus on forming a constitutional body after the PML-N and the PPP took a step back on the issue of the Constitutional Court, sources familiar with the matter claimed. Developments.
The matter, which initially focused on the Constitutional Court, has now evolved into the formation of a constitutional body, they told Geo News on Thursday.
After high-level discussions, four leaders of the PTI and PPP claimed that an agreement had been reached among all political parties on the formation of the constitutional body, according to insiders.
This came after another meeting of the special committee for the draft constitutional amendments, which concluded on Thursday.
The constitutional package aims, among other things, to establish a federal constitutional court and confirm the term of the Chief Justice of Pakistan for a period of three years.
The government had tried to introduce a draft law to amend the constitution last month, but its allies as well as members of the opposition benches strongly opposed the proposal, forcing the ruling parties to begin the consultation process.
To approve the constitutional amendments, the government needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament, while sources indicate a shortage of 13 votes in the National Assembly and nine in the Senate.
Speaking to the media earlier today after the meeting, Lawyer Johar said the government had submitted a third draft on the judicial package. He added that the government spoke in its third draft about a constitutional body instead of a court.
He added, “The government has not yet presented its complete draft.”