Cabinet to approve revised draft of constitutional package in next sitting today: law minister

ISLAMABAD: The passage of 26th constitutional amendment has been deferred for another day as the cabinet meeting and the sessions of both houses of parliament adjourned without making any progress.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced that the federal cabinet will hold another sitting at 2:30pm today (Sunday) to review and approve the final draft of the contentious 26th constitutional amendment draft.

“In today’s session of the federal cabinet, we presented draft approved by special committee,” said the law minister addressing a press conference at Parliament House along with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar late Saturday night.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the federal cabinet meeting saw multiple delays which was initially scheduled to begin early Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, IPP's Awn Chaudhry and leaders of the allied parties were among the attendees of the key cabinet meeting, said the sources.

Azam detailed that the cabinet members were briefed over the changes in the proposed draft.

He went on to say that the federal cabinet would give a go-ahead to the final draft after making modifications recommended by the special committee — which comprises the treasury and the opposition lawmakers.

The federal minister announced that the next cabinet session will be held at 2:30pm today (Sunday) while Senate’s session is scheduled for 3pm.

If approved by the federal cabinet, the draft will likely be tabled in both houses of parliament scheduled for today.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly Secretariat notified that today’s session will be held at 6pm.

After numerous political twists and turns, the government and opposition members have reportedly agreed on a joint draft of the 26th constitutional amendment.

The draft envisages the formation constitutional bench, parliamentary role in appointment of chief justice of the Supreme Court from a list of three judges, restructuring of the Judicial Council as well as the Supreme Judicial Council, and fixing a three-year tenure of chief justice.

Earlier today, after holding back-to-back meetings with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that his party and the JUI-F have reached a 100% consensus on the proposed constitutional amendment.

The statement comes as the PPP chief made a last-ditch effort to evolve a consensus on the judicial package among all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

PTI seeks 'time till Monday'

During the ongoing consultation process, the Imran Khan-founded party also sought more time from Maulana Fazl to hold further consultations with the incarcerated PTI founder till Monday on the contentious constitutional package, sources told Geo News.

Responding to the PTI's request, the JUI-F chief assured that he would make all-out efforts to stop the government from passing the legislative modifications in haste.

The JUI-F supremo's residence has been the centre of attention for many days as ruling parties holding meetings with politico-religious party chief to evolve consensus on the draft of the judicial package.

A PTI delegation also held a meeting with Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chief Akhtar Mengal at Parliament Lodges before his departure to Maulana Fazlur Rehman's residence, the sources added.

The sources revealed that the former ruling party held consultations with Mengal and PkMAP Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai to strongly resist the coalition government's move to pass the judicial package.

Constitutional amendments at a glance

As per the draft, approved by the parliamentary body and obtained by Geo News, the commission for appointment of the SC judges would comprise the citing chief justice, four senior-most judges of the top court, federal law minister, attorney-general for Pakistan, an advocate nominated by Pakistan Bar Council, two members from the Senate and as many from the National Assembly.

“The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered to the president by the cabinet, or the prime minister, shall not be inquired into in, or by, any court, tribunal or other authority”, read the draft.

The constitutional benches, as per the amendment draft, may comprise an equal number of judges from each province.

"The CJP, on completion term of three years, shall stand retired notwithstanding his age superannuation," reads the draft.

The amendment also proposes a restructuring of the SJC via tweaks to Article 209 of the Constitution and suggests that the body is to comprise the CJP, the two next most senior judges of the SC, and the two most senior chief justices of the high courts.