• Govt agrees to delay presentation of bill for a day at Fazl’s request; JUI-F chief says differences sorted out, claims receiving ‘positive response’ from PTI
• Law minister hints at changes to draft in light of allies’ suggestions as cabinet meets today
• Information minister says ‘other options’ available but govt wants to take everyone along
• PTI seeks another day for deliberations; Bilawal hopes the party will endorse tweaks; Mengal terms package ‘hostage amendments’

ISLAMABAD: The ruling coalition on Saturday agreed to defer the passage of the much-hyped 26th constitutional amendment bill till Sunday (today) after getting positive signals from the opposition parties and at the request of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to provide more time to PTI for an in-house consultation.

In another late-night development, the federal cabinet reviewed the draft of the amendment bill and after detailed deliberations decided to meet again on Sunday for the final approval before the proposed tweaks are tabled in both houses of parliament scheduled to meet in the afternoon.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar hinted at the possibility of some changes in the draft that had been approved on Friday by the special parliamentary committee led by PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah. He said the cabinet was expected to take up a new draft to be prepared in light of the recommendations made by the cabinet members and the government allies.

In response to a question, the law minister said that appointment of the new chief justice of Pakistan would be made in line with the new amendment if passed before Oct 25, the day incumbent CJP Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire.

According to the revised schedule, the Senate will meet at 3pm and the National Assembly at 6pm on Sunday (today).

Just like the days before, a press conference at midnight featuring the JUI-F chief brought clarity to the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations.

Flanked by PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Maulana Fazl said he had received a “positive response” from Imran Khan which was conveyed to him by PTI leaders after a meeting with their jailed founding chairman.

The JUI-F chief stated that his party had agreed to support the bill after the government withdrew its original draft. He said there had been no controversy over the draft and the differences had already been resolved.

Thanking Imran Khan for his “positive response”, the Maulana said it was through him that the PTI and its leadership were kept informed about the developments with regard to the constitutional amendment package. He expressed the hope that PTI would come up with its reply on Sunday.

In response to a question, the Maulana, however, said his party still had “reservations” over reports about the alleged harassment and intimidation of opposition members to get their support for the bill.

His response came hours after PTI Chairman

Barris­ter Gohar, while talking to reporters, alleged that two of the party senators Faisal Saleem and Zarqa Taimoor might vote for the draft even if the PTI decided to oppose it.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said his party could never support such acts of harassment against the opposition legislators. He said he desired that the Maulana should himself present the bill in the National Assembly.

Numbers game

However, despite claims of having the required number, the government could not table the bill in parliament earlier in the day despite marathon meetings to develop a consensus on the proposed reforms.

It was because of a lack of consensus on the draft of the constitutional amendment bill that the government had to defer the National Assembly and the Senate sessions several times throughout the day. Similarly, a special meeting of the federal cabinet to give a formal nod to the amendment bill was also deferred several times.

The sessions of the Senate and the National Assembly finally began near midnight, having a thin attendance of the members with both houses taking up the routine agenda business.

The residence of Maulana Fazl once again remained the centre of political activities. The top leadership of almost all major parties, including Mr Bhutto-Zardari, visited the place several times to woo the Maulana, who has also been playing the role of a mediator between the government and the main opposition PTI.

According to sources, the Maulana had told a government team headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who visited him on Saturday night, that his party would not vote for the constitution amendment bill in haste. He informed them that PTI had also sought one more day for an in-house consultation after the party leaders’ meeting with former prime minister Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.

PPP Chairman Bilawal, who is leading the campaign for the passage of the constitutional amendment bill, called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the possible ways and means to get the amendment passed after the JUI-F’s constant reluctance.

Earlier, Mr Bhutto-Zardari reached Maulana’s residence on Saturday morning with some key party leaders at a time when Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal was already present there.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the PPP chairman lambasted the PTI leadership for the delay and said the PTI must now demonstrate its commitment to the political process, emphasising that success in politics came through compromise and consensus.

‘Hostage amendment’

Later, Sardar Akhtar Mengal told reporters that the amendments should be called “hostage amendments”. He said when he was contacted and asked to vote for the amendment, he told them he had already submitted his resignation as MNA.

In the evening, a PTI delegation visited the Maulana’s residence. Senator Ali Zafar told media persons that the forcible amendment was not acceptable to anyone.

All-out efforts for consensus

On the other hand, the government ministers claimed to have the required numbers in parliament to get the amendment passed.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar during a news conference outside Parliament House said that despite having the numbers, the coalition government was making all-out efforts for a consensus. “We are democratic people; we try to create a consensus among all political stakeholders,” said the minister.

According to the state-run news agency APP, Mr Tarar said people from Punjab were also kept in KP and blame was shifted on institutions for what they called their disappearance.

Separately, speaking to the reporters, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government desired to pass the 26th constitutional amendment with broad-based consensus.

Addressing the issue of misinformation, the minister criticised the creation of a false narrative suggesting that members of the Senate and National Assembly had been kidnapped. “They should reveal the names of those allegedly kidnapped, imprisoned, or held hostage,” he said.

The constitutional package is legislation proposing a set of constitutional amendments, including an extension in the tenure of the chief justice.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2024