Islamabad/Karachi: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Muslim League (N) President Nawaz Sharif had a telephone conversation in which they discussed the country’s political situation and progress on the 26th constitutional amendment. Bilawal briefed Nawaz Sharif on the latest developments with Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) regarding constitutional amendments.
A statement issued by the PPP said that the two leaders considered seeking the political consensus needed to move forward on the 26th Amendment, adding that the report of the sub-committee was also considered, according to sources. Bilawal emphasized the importance of cooperation between political parties. According to PPP sources, the two leaders discussed the importance of getting consensus from all political parties on the proposed amendments.
Reiterating the importance of broad-based political support, Bilawal emphasized that the amendment should reflect collective agreement for national stability and development. It should be noted that JUI(F)’s support is important because it has five votes in the Senate and eight in the National Assembly. On the other hand, a meeting of the sub-committee of the parliamentary committee was held yesterday to review the various drafts related to the constitutional amendments.
Major government and opposition members participated in the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nazir Tarar. The main objective of the sub-committee was to iron out differences on the proposed amendments submitted by Muslim League (N) and JUI (F). The sub-committee has been tasked with presenting a working paper to today’s meeting of the Special Parliamentary Committee.
Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said in a Twitter message that the experience of Supreme Court judge Justice Darab Patel proved that there was a need for a federal constitutional court in Pakistan. shared by those who agreed with him, our history is offensive to those who believe that Pakistani politics begins with the Cricket World Cup and culminates with the revolution of Imran Khan and General Faiz.
Our commitment to constitutional evolution, manifesto and charter of democracy has always remained the same, even if the faces of the prime minister, judges and establishment keep changing, we never arbitrarily legislate or amend the constitution like dictators and judges. It took us 30 years to restore the 1973 Constitution in the 18th Amendment, almost two years to undo the damage of the 19th Amendment and PCO Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary’s political judgments. It has been decades, the 26th amendment is not being rushed, it should have been done a long time ago.
Justice Darab Patel was among the four distinguished judges who acquitted Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Justice Darab Patel refused to be a part of the judicial killing of Bhutto Shaheed. That there was no evidence to convict the people, Justice Patel did not consider the witness in the Bhutto Shaheed case to be credible, Darab Patel also said that it was a mistake to prosecute Bhutto Shaheed in the High Court in his absence. , which took the Supreme Court of Pakistan 45 years to recognize.
Justice Patel refused to take oath under dictator Zia-ul-Haq’s PCO in 1981 and preferred to resign, had he not done so, he would have become the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Meanwhile, the PML-N delegation met MQM leaders in Karachi. Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar took MQM into confidence on the constitutional amendment draft. Muttahida reiterated its demand for reforms of the local government system and providing it with constitutional protection, recovery of missing comrades, provision of development funds in urban areas of Sindh.
Speaking to the media, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that MQM and Muslim League-N have reiterated that they will work together on the current and future constitutional and social issues of Pakistan. The MQM has announced its conditional support for the proposed constitutional amendment, presented its long-standing demands to the delegation, which has been assured of taking practical steps at the earliest.
Ahsan Iqbal said in his speech that the purpose of this important meeting today is to take MQM, the main ally of the government, into confidence. Yes, MQM’s views on public and political issues in particular have sustained democratic stability in the country. It will be seen after the amendment, first this amendment will be passed, then a committee will be formed on MQM’s local body draft and quota system.
According to news agencies, the MQM delegation said that constitutional amendments are an important matter, but for democracy, amendments in local government laws and transfer of powers to lower levels are also important. The League delegation said that the Prime Minister and the entire Muslim League support the MQM’s local body amendments. Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that no democrat can disagree with the constitutional package, we want to keep the judiciary away from political matters.
The MQM has been assured that the proposed constitutional amendments will also address the concerns. After the constitutional amendment of the government, they will work on the proposed amendment bill of MQM related to local governments, they have assured that they will start working on development projects. MQM talked about recovery of its missing workers, will take steps on that too, we respect their mandate. Also working on urban package with MQM, no decision was taken in the standing committee on the issue of quota system. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that our long-standing struggle is the restoration of Article 140A. It has been reiterated to work together for the prosperity of the country in the present situation and in the coming future.
