ISLAMABAD:Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held a telephonic conversation to discuss the ongoing political situation and progress on developing consensus on the proposed 26th Constitutional Amendment. During the conversation, Bilawal briefed Nawaz on the latest developments with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) regarding the constitutional amendments.
A PPP statement said the two leaders deliberated on reaching a political consensus on the amendment package with Bilawal emphasizing the importance of collaboration among the political parties.
The telephonic conversation followed a meeting between Nawaz and Bilawal held at Punjab House the other day after Bilawal publicly criticized the PML-N government for its failure to table and pass the proposed constitutional amendments in parliament in September.
The meeting at Punjab House was viewed as an attempt by the PPP to mitigate tensions and build political consensus on the package.
During the meeting, when Bilawal noted that constitutional amendments should be passed through consensus to reflect a shared commitment to national progress, Nawaz assured him of the PML-N’s unwavering support for proposals aimed at benefiting the country, particularly those related to judicial reforms.
The statement issued said that the PPP chairman informed Nawaz about the progress made with the JUI-F, whose support has been critical for passing the amendment as the previous attempt of the PML-N-led ruling coalition had failed because JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had refused to vote for the government.
According to sources, the discussions are aimed at ensuring that both the parties are aligned in their approach to persuading the JUI-F and other political parties.The JUI-F’s endorsement is critical because of its five votes in the Senate and eight in the National Assembly. These votes are crucial to the treasury benches for passing the proposed bill.
Last time, the government had needed votes of the JUI-F, which sits on opposition benches, to reach the magic figure of 224 votes out of 336 in the National Assembly and 64 out of 85 in the Senate – a two-thirds majority in both houses – but it didn’t happen.
