KARACHI, June 15: The majority of speakers at a programme said most of the amendments related to the judiciary being proposed in the constitutional package were person-specific, though the Pakistan People’s Party insisted that those were essential for the independence of the judiciary.

They were speaking at a programme titled, “An overview of constitutional package: civil society’s perspective” organized by the Aurat Foundation on Saturday. Representatives of various political parties and civil society organizations spoke at the event.

Former Sindh Minister Sardar Ahmad, an MPA of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, said his party had constituted a legal team to review the package. The party’s recommendations and comments would be added following scrutiny and put in parliament for debate, he said.

He urged political parties to sit together and develop a consensus on the package so that other pressing issues, including unemployment, inflation and deteriorating economic conditions, being faced by the people could be discussed and solved.

The Muttahida leader claimed that he did not believe in indemnity, saying that whoever did wrong must be tried and punished in accordance with the law. He said he firmly believed in the independence of the judiciary and the supremacy of parliament.

Zahid Rafiq Butt of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said Friday’s gathering in Islamabad was a referendum against the dictator. By participating in the long march, he said people had sent a loud and clear message to the authorities that they wanted the reinstatement of all the deposed judges who were unconstitutionally sent home.

He said the amendments being suggested in the proposed constitutional package were person-specific. He further said that vested interests were hatching conspiracies to break the PPP-PML(N) coalition, but such nefarious designs would be foiled and both the parties – despite disagreements on certain issues – would continue to serve the masses.

Reiterating that the impeachment of retired general Pervez Musharraf was necessary, he said when the general would leave, the political system would become stable and economic situation would improve.

Curtailment of powers

Retired Justice Shaiq Usmani, representing civil society, said the amendments regarding the judiciary being suggested seemed not only person-specific, but were also apparently aimed at the curtailment of the judiciary’s powers. He said the procedure of judges’ recruitment, the accountability process as well as their retirement age were also being changed to further control their independence. He was of the firm view that the deposed judges could be restored through a bill that neither the president nor the Senate could block.

He also said the limit of quorum of the National Assembly was being reduced from one-fourth at the present to one-sixth, which showed that the public representatives did not care to attend assembly proceedings and serve the masses.

He said with the proposed changes in procedure, the army chief’s nomination would further tighten the sitting army chief’s grip over his corps commanders or officers in line for promotion.

He suggested that a permanent post of vice chief of army staff be created as it, according to him, could act as a check to an ambitious army chief’s unconstitutional adventures.

Bitter pills

PPP representative Taj Haider said the party did not have sufficient numbers in parliament to get the package passed. Some suggestions of other parties, though not agreeable to the PPP, had been accepted as bitter pills to build a consensus, he said. Similarly, he added, the impeachment threat was being used to get votes.

Saying that false cases were instituted against politicians, Mr Haider insisted that the party had agreed to the National Reconciliation Ordinance just to ensure that the late Benazir Bhutto could safely enter the country. He also insisted that the amendments related to the judiciary were not person-specific but those had been proposed to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

Dr Arif Alvi of the Tehrik-i-Insaf said that the NRO was an immoral law that brought a bad name to the country in the international community. He also expressed concern over the curtailment of suo motu powers of the Supreme Court.

Besides, he suggested that the concurrent list be minimised and the Balochistan issue be resolved on a priority basis as otherwise things might get out of hand.

Yusuf Mustikhan of the National Workers’ Party said there was no need for this package as the 1973 Constitution had already been disfigured owing to the numerous amendments.

Earlier, Zahid Farooq, Uzma Noorani, Manzoor Badayuni and Naheed Syed also spoke.