A special parliamentary committee, led by Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah, convened to discuss proposed constitutional amendments, aiming for a consensus between government and opposition parties. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) presented its own draft during the meeting, opposing the government’s proposal for a constitutional court and instead advocating for the formation of a judicial bench, as reported by local media.
Senator Kamran Murtaza highlighted that the key disagreement between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and JUI-F lies in their stance on a constitutional court versus a bench, with the rest of the draft remaining uncontested. He expressed optimism that both sides would eventually reach a joint agreement on the amendments.
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In response to the government’s extensive 56-point draft, Senator Murtaza put forward a more streamlined 24-point proposal, emphasizing that a large judicial structure is unnecessary for managing fewer than 200 constitutional cases. Efforts are ongoing to find a middle ground, with the goal of enhancing transparency in the amendment process, according to Shehryar Rahman.
The meeting saw participation from notable figures via video link, including JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PTI’s Asad Qaiser. Opposition leader Omar Ayub raised concerns about the arrests of PTI workers, but Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar urged a focus on the amendment discussions, suggesting that other matters could be addressed afterward.
The committee is set to reconvene on October 17, aiming to merge the various proposals into a single draft. A subcommittee has also been established to review the drafts in detail, with a report to be submitted to the special committee. The subcommittee meetings remain open to any interested members, ensuring broad participation in the drafting process.
