Maulana in favour of constitutional court but disagrees on its modus operandi: PPP

A key meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Naveed Qamar announced on Monday that both parties have reached a preliminary agreement on the formation of a constitutional court.

Bilawal, accompanied by senior PPP leaders Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Jameel Soomro, and Murtaza Wahab, met with Maulana Fazl at his residence in Islamabad. The JUI-F delegation, led by Fazl, included prominent figures such as Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Maulana Abdul Wasay, Maulana Asad Mahmood, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Mir Usman Badini, and Maulana Misbah Uddin.

This meeting followed Bilawal’s earlier discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the ruling coalition seeks to advance its judiciary-centric constitutional package through Parliament. The package requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

During a press conference, Syed Naveed Qamar expressed optimism about the meeting’s outcomes, stating, “Positive things have happened in today’s meeting. We hope that we will all sit down and come to a consensus.” He elaborated that the amendment in question concerns the formation of a constitutional court. Although Maulana Fazl has shown support for this initiative, some differences remain regarding its implementation.

Qamar noted that both parties will collaborate to address any objections and finalize a consensus draft for parliamentary approval. Khursheed Shah also indicated that certain amendments were removed from the draft following consultations with Maulana Fazl. He emphasized that legislation is a parliamentary prerogative and reassured that efforts will continue to reach an agreement with all stakeholders.

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In a related development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored that amending the Constitution and enacting legislation fall within the domain of Parliament, which represents the will of the people. The prime minister reiterated the importance of these amendments in ensuring effective and timely justice for citizens.

The ongoing debate over the constitutional amendments has centered on proposals to extend the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and adjust the retirement age for judges. The ruling coalition is facing difficulties in securing the required two-thirds majority in Parliament, a challenge exacerbated by the JUI-F’s cautious stance on the amendments.

Despite efforts to garner support, the government has been unable to secure the necessary votes, leading to the decision to “indefinitely postpone” the tabling of the constitutional package. Opposition parties, including PTI and JUI-F, have criticized the government for its lack of transparency regarding the proposed amendments, demanding that the original draft be debated in Parliament before approval.