Constitutional amendments: PPP, PML-N, JUI-F submit drafts in parliamentary body meeting

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl group (JUI-F) have submitted their respective drafts for a proposed constitutional amendment before the Parliamentary Special Committee on Friday. 

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the meeting, chaired by Khursheed Shah, saw active participation from key political figures, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sheri Rehman of the PPP, Senator Aamil Wali Khan, and Ijazul Haq. 

The committee is set to reconvene tomorrow at noon to further discuss the proposals.

After the meeting, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, while speaking to the media, said both the government and the Supreme Court Bar's suggestions on the judicial package have been presented to the committee. 

Tarar highlighted a discrepancy between the draft he handed over to the SC bar members and the one currently being presented by them in the meeting. 

The federal law minister also confirmed that while the PPP has submitted its draft, the PTI has requested more time and has yet to provide any opinion. He also said that we already completed the numbers required for constitutional amendment.

After the special committee meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman remarked that the government has shared its draft for the first time, and PPP’s proposals are now on the table.

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that despite achieving required numbers for passage of constitutional amendments, they are trying to create consensus among all political parties, reported the 24NewsHD TV Channel on Friday.

Talking with newsmen, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said during the meeting all political parties shared their output. He said the government shared a draft regarding the establishment of constitutional courts with Maulana Fazalur Rehman and separately submitted the same in the meeting.

He said that the government's stance was also presented, while input from the lawyer community was also reviewed in the meeting. Bilawal said his party always prefers consensus among political parties.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasised that JUI and PPP will be consulted on the draft, with further consultations between PPP and the government, as well as between JUI and PTI.

PTI leader Aamir Dogar told the media that the government had only submitted half of its draft to the committee. He confirmed that PTI has received both drafts and will discuss them internally within the party.

Later, Maulana Fazlur Rehman held a separate meeting with parliamentary members at Parliament House, where discussions focused on the country's political landscape and the proposed constitutional amendments. 

Attendees included PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, BAP's Khalid Magsi, ANP’s Senator Hidayatullah, Senator Kamran Murtaza, and MNA Usman Badini.

Following is the image of the draft proposal presented by PPP in the committee meeting:

Reporter: Usman Khan