The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have abandoned their earlier plan to create constitutional courts, opting instead for a bench as part of a revised proposal for constitutional amendments.
According to reports, the ruling coalition is expected to present these amendments in the Senate on Friday.
This shift occurred during a meeting of the parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing constitutional changes. The session was chaired by PPP leader Khursheed Shah, with prominent figures such as Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Sherry Rehman, Awami National Party’s Aimal Wali Khan, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, and Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub in attendance.
Referred to as the “26th Constitutional Amendment,” the proposed reforms initially included a three-year term limit for the chief justice of Pakistan and the establishment of a constitutional court.
However, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman had previously voiced his opposition to the amendments on September 18 but expressed support for the formation of constitutional courts, as long as they weren’t tied to any specific individual.
Legal experts have raised concerns over the proposed changes, fearing they could weaken judicial independence by restricting the Supreme Court’s authority to only civil and criminal cases. Despite this, the ruling parties made headway on Wednesday, gaining support from Maulana Fazlur Rehman for their judicial reforms package.
Still, the coalition will need PTI’s cooperation to secure full consensus on the amendments, which have become a heated topic in the country’s political arena.
According to Aaj News, the provision for constitutional courts has been removed from the “26th Constitutional Amendment,” with both the government and JUI-F agreeing to establish a constitutional bench. Consultations with PTI will continue, with Fazlur Rehman expected to present the final draft to PTI leadership.
Reports indicated that if the proposed constitutional bench receives protection under the Constitution, the party might accept it. Otherwise, their support could waver.
The PPP and JUI-F are reportedly united on this issue, but there are lingering concerns within PML-N. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reportedly assured PML-N that he cannot withdraw from the deal made with Fazlur Rehman.
