Ruling Coalition Deliberates on Chief Justice Term Legislation Amid Opposition Concerns
Key ruling coalition members convened at both the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday to discuss a significant legislative proposal aimed at setting a fixed three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). The meetings, chaired separately by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also focused on strategies to address opposition concerns and secure the necessary votes for a constitutional amendment.
President Zardari hosted a meeting at the President’s House, while PM Shehbaz Sharif held discussions at the PM’s Office, aiming to gather support from coalition partners and former allies, including JUI-F, led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The proposed amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, necessitating 224 votes in the National Assembly. The ruling coalition is currently short by 12 votes, and even with JUI-F’s support, they will still need an additional four to five votes. However, with JUI-F backing, the coalition would have the required majority in the Senate.
In the midst of this legislative push, the PTI has raised concerns, alleging that some of its members are facing pressure to vote in favor of the bill. The National Assembly Secretariat has indicated that the bill will likely be presented in the assembly later this week.
Proposal to Increase Number of Supreme Court Judges
Additionally, a separate bill seeking to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 21 has already been introduced in the Senate by Senator Abdul Qadir, an independent from Balochistan. This bill is currently under review by the relevant committee.
To pass a constitutional amendment in the Senate, the ruling coalition needs 64 votes. Currently, they hold 55 seats, including members from PML-N, PPP, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), MQM, and independents.
Meetings Amid Political Crackdown
The high-level meetings coincided with a late-night police crackdown on top PTI leaders in Islamabad. During the discussions at both the Presidency and PMO, ruling alliance parliamentarians were urged to ensure their attendance in the upcoming legislative sessions.
Although President Zardari invited JUI-F representatives to join the meeting, no one from the party attended. President Zardari stressed the importance of strengthening parliamentary democracy and fostering political stability to guide the country toward progress.
Representatives from the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) attended the Presidency meeting. Meanwhile, at the PM’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of lawmakers being present for the upcoming legislation.
Economic Achievements and Future Outlook
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted recent economic progress, particularly the reduction of inflation to 9.6% in August, crediting the government’s efforts for this achievement. He expressed optimism that inflation would continue to decline in the coming months, noting that the country had previously maintained a single-digit inflation rate when his party was in power in 2018.
The prime minister attributed the recent economic stabilization and growth trajectory to the government’s decisive actions since April 2022, which helped prevent the country from defaulting. He also assured that efforts were being made to provide relief to the low-income population, particularly in regard to power tariffs.
PM Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the need for political stability and continuity of policies, and he condemned the use of inappropriate language by opposition leaders during a recent political rally.
With these developments, the government aims to advance its legislative agenda while addressing economic challenges and maintaining political stability.
