PM hosts luncheon for MPs ahead of NA and Senate sessions

As efforts to finalise the proposed constitutional amendments intensify, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a luncheon in honour of parliamentarians at the Parliament House pm Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The luncheon served as a key opportunity for discussions ahead of the today's sessions of the National Assembly and Senate, both of which have been convened by President Asif Ali Zardari. The Senate will meet at 3:00 pm, followed by the National Assembly at 4:00 pm.

President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others were in presence at the lunch meeting held at the Parliament House.

Simultaneously, Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will also convene a meeting of the party’s parliamentary members in the Senate at 2:30 pm to ensure their presence and strategise ahead of the session. He urged the members to ensure their presence in the session.

Yesterday, a significant breakthrough occurred when the PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) reached a consensus on judicial reforms during a meeting at Jati Umra. JUI's Maulana Fazlur Rehman confirmed the agreement, stating, “There is consensus on judicial reforms. I will also engage the PTI in the coming days.” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also confirmed the consensus between the three parties, emphasising the importance of judicial reforms for the country.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar noted that while progress had been made, disagreements remain, particularly over the draft for the formation of a constitutional court. Sources indicated that the PML-N’s concerns regarding the appointment of judges to the constitutional bench remained unresolved, despite multiple rounds of discussions. The JUI proposed a five-judge constitutional bench, while the PML-N favoured judicial appointments through a designated committee.

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) remains undecided on whether to support the proposed amendments. Sources revealed that party leadership, during a dinner hosted by Sindh Governor Kamran Tesuri in Karachi, raised concerns about how the constitutional changes would benefit Sindh, particularly Karachi and Hyderabad. They emphasised that while political parties focus on their agendas, public problems in Sindh remain unresolved.

Former Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi voiced his strong opposition to the constitutional amendment process, calling it 'unconstitutional' and criticising the government for pushing the amendments through without consulting the legal community. Qureshi alleged that PTI members were facing pressure and that their homes were being raided, violating their privacy.

Yesterday, the special parliamentary committee met in Islamabad to combine the proposed drafts from various political parties. According to PPP MNA Syed Khursheed Shah, the committee has received drafts from the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) as well. However, PTI Chief Whip Amir Dogar requested a delay in the committee’s proceedings to allow the PTI more time to review the amendments. 

Reporter: Awais Kiyani