NA speaker tasked by PM to build consensus on amendment

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assigned National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq the crucial responsibility of developing a consensus among political parties for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, well-informed sources told Geo News on Wednesday.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) is now seeking a broad political agreement on the proposed constitutional tweaks for establishing a Constitutional Court and making certain changes to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

This tweak also sought to amend Article 243 — which pertains to the supreme command of the armed forces — as well as several other key constitutional adjustments, according to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Other proposals included the introduction of executive magistrates, provisions for the transfer of judges and the removal of protections related to provincial shares in the NFC Award.

Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar confirmed on Tuesday that the government was currently in discussion with its major coalition partner, the PPP, and would also take other allied parties — including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Awami National Party (ANP) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — into confidence before finalising the draft.

The sources said that the NA speaker has convened a meeting of all parliamentary leaders to discuss the proposed amendment and seek broad political agreement, which will be held in the Speaker’s Lounge at the Parliament House on Thursday.

They said that invitations have been extended to parliamentary leaders of all the major political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF), as well as the chief whips of coalition partners.

The sources added that the participants will be briefed on the contours of the constitutional amendment, and a joint strategy for its passage will be discussed. “If consensus is not reached, the government will rely on its own numbers in the National Assembly,” they added.

They further revealed that Sadiq is also expected to hold one-on-one meetings with parliamentary leaders in his chamber before the joint sitting.

Meanwhile, the ruling party instructed all its lawmakers and coalition parties’ members to ensure their presence in Islamabad ahead of the key session.

Earlier, former federal minister Senator Faisal Vawda on Wednesday met JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to seek his support for the 27th Amendment to the Constitution.

“There is no difficulty in the passage of the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, but it will be better if it is passed with consensus,” Vawda said while talking informally to newsmen after the meeting. He said Maulana was a seasoned politician, and he talked about consideration and giving an opinion. “The 27th Amendment will certainly go through. Now you should talk about the 28th Amendment,” he said. He rejected an impression that the 18th Amendment would be rolled back, terming speculations in this regard mere propaganda.

“Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his mother, grandfather and maternal uncle gave sacrifices for the Constitution and democracy,” he said. Asked whether he brought with him any draft of the proposed amendment, he said it was the government’s job. He was of the view that if a politician could do politics at the age of 85, why a judge or any other government officer should retire at 60 or 65. He said that posting and transfer was an important clause of Article 243 of the Constitution and according to Article 243(1), war was not just confined to air, land and sea.

According to him, Maulana raised no objection during the meeting. “Maulana is a big name in politics and is always required in this country’s politics”, he said, adding that it would be Maulana’s decision as to which side he chose to vote. There was nothing hidden as it was not a secret meeting.