Constitutional amendments: Omar says govt lacks numbers

Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omer Ayub has said the government is going to make constitutional amendments by hooks and crooks.

Addressing the National Assembly session on Thursday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader said the government was bringing in the proposed constitutional amendment bill in the opposition’s absence from the assembly.

“Law enforcers are picking up our members. The government lacks the numbers to get the constitutional amendment bill to sail through the House.

He reminded the speaker of his calls about the ‘disappearance of Zain Qureshi's wife’ who has nothing to do with politics.

He added: Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been in jail for a year. One more PTI MNA has been missing. Members' homes were vandalized and videos were made. Riaz Fatiana's son was kidnapped twice.

He continued: “Party founder’s lawyer Intizar Panjutha has been missing for seven days.

“Right now, law enforcers are raiding our party members' homes

“The businesses of opposition members have been closed

“In these circumstances, the government is going to frame the constitution. Why do you go for this adventure when you lack numbers?"

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan People’s Party and the Jamiat Ulema Islam yesterday reached a consensus on the judicial reforms in connection with the proposed constitutional amendments.

The agreement was reached during a meeting among the leadership of the party at Jati Umra.

The leaders of PML-N , PPP and JUI deliberated upon the proposed constitutional amendments.

After the meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the meeting was good He added “There is a consensus on the matter of judicial reforms. I will also talk to PTI.”

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that an agreement was reached between the three parties regarding judicial reforms. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that political parties are striving for the betterment of the people.

According to sources, the main leaders of the political parties could not agree on the draft of the constitutional courts in the first meeting. After that, the second round was held.

The PML-N concerns remained unaddressed, they said, adding that the JUI proposed incorporating five judges in the constitutional bench.

Fazl said the PPP agreed to form the constitutional bench and the PML-N proposed to appoint judges through the relevant committee.

Earlier, the special committee met in Islamabad and combined the proposed draft. Talking to the media, PPP MNA Syed Khursheed Shah said that the committee combined the draft of four parties today. He said the BNP and Balochistan Awami Party have also given their drafts to the committee.

Khurshid Shah said PTI chief whip Amir Dogar has contacted the committee and demanded the cancellation of the meeting. He said PTI has convened its own meeting to review proposed amendments therefore PTI should be given one day. Khurheed Shah said at the request of PTI. The special committee session has been postponed for one day.