Islamabad, October 18, 2024- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar has claimed that his party is close to reaching a consensus on the proposed constitutional amendments after discussions with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The amendments, part of the widely debated Constitutional Package, include an extension of the Chief Justice’s term.
A special parliamentary committee, representing all major parties, including PTI, has been reviewing the package. The PPP made its draft public on October 11, and shortly thereafter reached a consensus with the JUI-F. Following his meeting with Fazl, Gohar said PTI would present the draft to its founder, Imran Khan, for final approval. “We are close to a consensus with Maulana sahib, and after receiving Imran Khan’s input tomorrow, we’ll finalize the draft,” he stated.
Constitutional package an “attack on the constitution and judicial independence”- Salman Akram Raja
However, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, in an interview with a private TV channel, criticized the latest draft, calling it an “attack on the Constitution and judicial independence.” He objected to provisions that allow the government to influence the composition of the constitutional bench and the process of appointing the Chief Justice. While acknowledging that “most things have been agreed upon,” Raja emphasized that the party still has reservations about amendments to Article 8 and the transfer of high court judges.
Raja also claimed that PTI had been denied access to its incarcerated leader, Imran Khan, and vowed to challenge the government’s actions in court.
Constitutional amendment bill unanimously accepted, Claims Khursheed Shah
Meanwhile, PPP leader Khursheed Shah, who heads the parliamentary committee, asserted that the bill had been unanimously accepted by the committee and was now awaiting cabinet approval before being presented to Parliament. However, tensions persist, with Maulana Fazl threatening to walk out of negotiations due to alleged harassment of opposition lawmakers in securing support for the bill.
