Constitutional package: Panel to discuss CEC appointment procedure today

ISLAMABAD: The special committee is scheduled to meet on Friday (today) again at 1:30pm to come up with a consensus draft of the constitutional amendment.

Sources said PPP and PMLN have decided to consult Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif to give the final shape to the draft. Sources said besides the judicial reforms, there was a proposal for changing the procedure of appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and it was proposed that in case of disagreement between the prime minister and opposition leader, the matter should be referred to the parliamentary committee.

Speaking on on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Senator Irfan Siddiqui revealed that the special committee has agreed on an arrangement that will be lower than the constitutional court but above any regular bench of the Supreme Court. “We are close to an arrangement which will satisfy everyone.”

When asked how the matter of pendency will be resolved, he said when the judges come to the constitutional bench, they will focus on constitutional matters and other judges will focus on other cases. He said the mechanism of appointment of judges will also be unveiled, and, for now, the commission head will be the Chief Justice of Pakistan while other members will include senior judges and bar councils. They are working on a proposal for the merger of the parliamentary committee. He further said if Maulana Fazlur Rehman comes on board, then there will be no issue of passage of the bill from the Senate. When asked about the complaints of the opposition about pressure on them, he said he was not privy to the issue.

Earlier, Senate Siddiqui told reporters they had reached a consensus on the constitutional amendments draft. “Only a little push is needed as everyone has agreed,” he claimed. He said the constitutional amendments package would be tabled in the Senate on Friday if a broader consensus was reached.

He said Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and JUIF Senator Kamran Murtaza expressed optimism about the proposed amendments during a meeting of the special committee on constitutional reforms. He said 90pc of the work on the amendments was completed, he said.

Special Committee Chairman Syed Khursheed Shah told reporters after the committee meeting that there is a consensus on constitutional amendment between PML-N, JUI-F and MQM and a complete consensus will be reached in a day or two.

He said that there is no major obstacle in finalizing the draft and there are many things in the draft to make the Parliament stronger.

He said that PTI did not present its proposals in the committee meeting despite repeatedly asked to submit their proposals.

Syed Khursheed Shah said PTI constitutional committee are helpless and Barrister Gohar Khan and Omar Ayub Khan did not have mandate.

To question with regard to complaints of PTI of abduction of their members, Shah said the matter has been placed before the Speaker, who is looking into it seriously.

Parliamentary leader of the PPP in the Senate Senator Sherry Rehman said that the PTI did not give the draft and this evening the PTI will sit with Maulana Fazalur Rehman.

She said that the PPP and JUI-F have agreed on the draft. “It’s a matter of day or two and a draft will come before all,” she said.

She said a lot of hard work has gone into preparing the draft constitution. “the thing will move ahead after getting everyone’s suggestions and recommendations,” she said.

Senator Sherry Rehman said Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has initiated this and we are using political forums to build consensus.

On the other hand, Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Khan told reporters the PTI has prepared its draft, but will present it after meeting the PTI founder Imran Khan.

He said a meeting will be held with Maulana Fazalur Rehman today, expressing the hope that he would not compromise on the independence of the judiciary.

PPP Parliamentary Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman said the PTI did not give any draft and on Thursday evening, it was to sit with Maulana Fazlur Rehman. She said PPP and JUIF had agreed on the draft. “It’s a matter of day or two and the draft will come before all,” she said.

Sherry said a lot of hard work had gone into draft constitution. “It will move ahead after getting everyone’s suggestions and recommendations,” she said. Sherry said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had initiated it and “we are using political forums to build a consensus”.

On the other hand, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan told the media they have prepared their draft but will present it in the special committee after holding a meeting with party founder Imran Khan. He said there would be a meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and it was hoped that he would not compromise on the independence of judiciary.

Meanwhile, on the directive of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the National Assembly secretariat after midnight announced change in timing of the Friday’s session which now be held at 6pm instead of 11 am. According to a cicular, the Speaker has changed timing of the Friday’s proceedings in exercise of powers under sub rule (2) of rule 49 of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.

However, the order of the day released by secretariat does not include introduction of the Constitution (Twenty sixth) Amendment Bill, 2024. Any item apart of released agenda can be taken up as supplementary during proceedings of the House.