Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the National Assembly on Monday, stating that a proposed ‘Constitutional Package’ had yet to be presented to the federal cabinet.
The package includes various amendments to the Constitution, including a proposal to limit the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to three years.
Although the legislation was expected to be introduced in the National Assembly and Senate earlier, it was delayed over the weekend due to challenges in gaining sufficient support. Tarar clarified that the proposed amendments had not been presented to the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) or the federal cabinet for approval, which is a necessary step in the legislative process.
The Senate session convened briefly, while the National Assembly session began in the afternoon. Despite being kept away from public scrutiny, the proposed amendments were discussed at a special parliamentary committee meeting over the weekend in an effort to bring the opposition on board. The PTI has raised concerns, stating that the draft was not shared during a three-hour meeting, and they are actively working to prevent its introduction.
According to an analysis by Dawn, if the government secures support from key political allies, including Fazl’s party, it may just achieve the 64 votes needed in the Senate. However, securing the required votes in the National Assembly remains uncertain, even with potential support from JUI-F.
Tarar assured the opposition that the government is open to constructive recommendations and is aiming for consensus. He outlined that a constitutional amendment must first be approved by the federal cabinet before it can be introduced in either the National Assembly or Senate.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized that the proposed legislation seeks to address constitutional imbalances and restore the parliament’s authority. He asserted that the initiative is not politically motivated but rooted in the 2006 Charter of Democracy. The bill, according to Asif, aims to correct previous changes to Article 63A and strengthen the judicial commission for high court judges’ performance evaluations.
In the Senate, Irfan Siddiqui from PML-N indicated that legislative sessions will be called once all angles have been thoroughly considered. Discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman were described as positive, with Fazl asking for time to review the amendments.
On the opposition side, PTI leader Asad Qaiser expressed dissatisfaction with the process, suggesting his party may boycott the sessions and challenge the amendment in court. He also criticized the hurried nature of the legislative process, urging for greater transparency.
The government’s focus remains on securing the votes needed for the amendment, with Fazl’s support being critical in the Senate. However, in the National Assembly, the coalition still falls short of the required numbers despite potential backing from JUI-F.
