Pakistan’s constitutional amendments package to be presented in cabinet for approval today

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s contentious constitutional amendments package seeking judicial reforms will be presented in the federal cabinet for approval today, Sunday, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed as the government’s efforts to build consensus on the proposals gather steam.
Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes in parliament since last month which the country’s opposition and legal fraternity argue are aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments. The government rejects these allegations.
The proposed amendments initially suggested establishing a federal constitutional court, raising the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modifying the process for appointing the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has alleged the government is using the amendments to grant an extension in office to incumbent Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, widely seen as aligned with the ruling coalition government. The federal government has rejected Khan’s allegations.
“Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Sunday a comprehensive draft of the constitutional amendment with some tweaks to the earlier one would be presented before the Federal Cabinet later in the day at 2:30pm for its approval,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said in a report.
“The bill, once approved by the Federal Cabinet, would be moved in both Houses for voting, said the minister while talking to the media at the Parliament House.”
Tarar said the ruling coalition government had worked out the draft after discussions and “broader consultation” with all political parties and their leaders in parliament, as well as with legal representatives.
“He expressed the hope that both houses would vote on the amendment later in the day,” APP reported.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally of the Sharif-led coalition government, has been spearheading efforts to woo opposition parties and prominent lawyers to accept the controversial amendments.
In a press conference on Saturday night, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazl-ur-Rehman confirmed “major” disputes between both sides had been resolved after the government had removed some sections of the initial draft on which the opposition had expressed its reservations.
“The government agreed to withdraw all the contentious sections we objected to, paving the way for consensus,” Rehman told reporters. “At this stage, there are no major disputes between us about the amendments, and most of the contentious issues have been resolved.”
The JUI-F chief said ex-PM Khan’s PTI had been kept in the loop on discussions related to the amendments, adding that he received a message from the former premier which reflected a “positive approach” toward the constitutional amendments.
Rehman said the PTI needed time to consult its senior parliamentarians and leadership. “They have asked for time until tomorrow [Sunday], and we expect their response soon,” he said.
Bhutto-Zardari hoped the PTI and other opposition parties would provide a “positive” response to Rehman on the constitutional amendments.
“Once the parliament convenes, I would request Maulana Sahib [Rehman] that the JUI-F present the bill which both of us have prepared,” the PPP leader said.