The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling coalition has finally abandoned plans to set up a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) alongside the Supreme Court after failing to secure Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal’s support for the 26th constitutional amendment. Has done Today in Parliament
Instead, a consensus was reached to create a constitutional bench of 5 or 9 judges within the Supreme Court.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman emerged victorious for the second time in two months, not only thwarting the ruling coalition’s attempt to pass constitutional amendments in September but also forcing the ruling parties to abandon the FCC plan. Convinced to do it. The government has now decided to create a constitutional division within the Supreme Court.
Despite the visits, meetings, and pleas of the Muslim League (N) and the People’s Party as well as President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Fazal did not budge an inch from his position and finally convinced the ruling coalition not only succeeded in doing. Change your constitutional amendment draft but also include PTI in the consultation process.
Meanwhile, government sources said that a federal cabinet meeting has also been convened on Friday to approve the 26th constitutional amendment. He said that after the approval of the cabinet, the constitutional amendment will be presented in the Senate and the National Assembly.
There was a flurry of activity in the federal capital on Thursday, which included a meeting between the President and the Prime Minister, a meeting of the Special Committee of the National Assembly on the proposed amendments, a lunch hosted by the Prime Minister for senators of the ruling coalition and a meeting of both houses. . of Parliament. Such engagements helped create an apparent consensus on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
The first confirmation of the merger of PML-N and PPP on JUI(F)’s demands came from the special committee meeting as the two parties sitting on the treasury benches made changes in their proposals. Commenting on the progress,
A key member of the ruling coalition shared with The Express Tribune that the decision was taken “in the larger interest of parliamentary consensus”.
By afternoon, it was clear that the government and its allies had scrapped the idea of ​​the FCC, which was the centerpiece of the government’s proposed amendments and agreed on the formation of only one bench in the Supreme Court.
After that, the senators participating in the luncheon confirmed to the media that a consensus had been reached on the formation of only one bench in the Supreme Court as opposed to the establishment of a separate constitutional court in the country.
After which, according to media reports, a meeting was held between President Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif
In which the proposed amendments and the overall political situation of the country were discussed. Despite the consensus between the ruling parties and the JUI-F, the PTI has yet to express its mind on the proposed amendments as it acted as a mere spectator during the special committee meetings.
