All roads lead to Fazl’s residence

ISLAMABAD: The Shehbaz government, while making strenuous efforts to secure the numbers required for the passage of judicial amendment, contacted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday.

Sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Maulana Fazlur Rehman to seek his support for the constitutional amendment. It was reported that Fazlur Rehman sought a draft of the amendment to consult with his party leaders before making a decision.

Earlier, a delegation led by the deputy prime minister met Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence late Friday night. The delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

However, they were unable to win over Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who remains unwilling to support any “person-specific constitutional amendment” related to the judiciary.

The allied government, currently represented by 214 MNAs in the National Assembly, is in dire need of JUIF’s support, which holds eight seats. JUI-F’s backing would bring the government close to the two-thirds majority (224 MNAs) required in the National Assembly.

Sources further revealed that PMLN MNA Hamza Shehbaz Sharif and MNA Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, who were abroad, are expected to return to Islamabad before the start of Sunday’s National Assembly session. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a special meeting of the federal cabinet on Sunday (today).

Official sources said that the meeting is aimed at seeking approval for the constitutional amendment related to the judiciary before it is tabled in the National Assembly. The cabinet meeting will be held before the National Assembly session, scheduled to begin at 11:30 am on Sunday. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will brief the cabinet on the key features of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2024.

The constitutional package includes amendments to Article 175A of the Constitution to change the format of Judicial Commission of Pakistan, amendments to Article 179 to increase the retirement age of judges of Supreme Court and high courts, and a proposal to limit the tenure of the chief justice of Pakistan to three years.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also met Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence. The PTI delegation comprising party’s chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan discussed the political situation with the JUIP leadership. The PTI leadership requested Maulana Fazlur Rehman to stick to his decision of not supporting the constitutional amendment. The delegation comprised Asad Qaiser, Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Senator Shibli Faraz and Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

JUIP leaders Aslam Ghori, Senator Kamran Murtaza and Hafiz Ehsan Khokar were present in the meeting. Fazlur Rehman also hosted dinner for the PTI leaders.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto also reached the residence JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman late Saturday night.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab was also with him. Maulana Fazlur Rehman was busy consulting with his legal and parliamentary affairs team, headed by Senator Murtaza, and strategizing about the proceedings of Parliament. The arrival of Bilawal Bhutto was a pleasant surprise for Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Bilawal also joined his advisory team.