ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have held discussions during which the two leaders reached an agreement on constitutional amendments.
Bilawal called on Nawaz Sharif at the Punjab House, where the former Prime Minister welcomed the PPP leader.The two leaders also exchanged views on the country’s political situation.The discussion primarily focused on judicial reforms and constitutional amendments.
They decided to present these amendments in Parliament following further consultation, with the timeline for this process to be determined in consultation with other political parties.Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Sanaullah, Pervez Rashid, Irfan Siddiqui, and Ahsan Iqbal attended of the meeting from the PML-N.
Meanwhile, the PPP delegation included Yousaf Raza Gillani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah, Murtaza Wahab, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Naveed Qamar, and Palwasha Khan.Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to attend a dinner in honour of a Saudi delegation later tonight.
According to an earlier working paper for the 26th Constitutional Amendment, one of the key proposals includes the establishment of a parallel Federal Constitutional Court, alongside the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court will serve for three years, with retirement set at 68 years of age. Additionally, the amendment proposed that any member of parliament voting against party instructions will have their vote disregarded.
The proposal also suggested that the authority to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court be transferred to the Prime Minister, based on recommendations from an eight-member committee of the National Assembly.
One of the most notable amendments includes changes to Article 48 of the Constitution, which would prevent any court, tribunal, or authority from inquiring into advice sent by the Prime Minister or Cabinet to the President.
Meanwhile, an amendment to Article 63 would ensure that votes cast against party instructions will no longer be counted.
Another major proposal in the working paper involves changes to Article 78, which advocates for the creation of the Federal Constitutional Court. Additionally, amendments to Article 175 suggest that judges of the High Courts and Sharia Courts will be appointed by a commission, with the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court heading this commission.
