Govt courts JUI-F chief amid legislative push

Zardari, Naqvi discuss politics with Maulana Fazl

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday as the ruling coalition is preparing to introduce some significant legislation in the National Assembly and Senate next week.

The meeting has come on the heels of recent discussions between JUI-F and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, signaling shifting political alliances and potential impacts on upcoming legislative moves of the ruling parties.

It has also come just a couple of days after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deliberate on the ongoing political situation and discuss upcoming legislative agenda, primarily, dealing with the economic issues but, ultimately, having an impact in the judicial territory.

During the meeting, the sources in the ruling alliance and JUI-F said that the discussions focused on the evolving political situation, with particular attention on the government's anticipated legislative agenda, which is said to be designed to address critical economic woes but can potentially influence judicial territory.

The JUI-F, which has been in talks with PTI leaders to protest against the government as well as coordinate on legislative matters, has found itself at the centre of both opposition and ruling party strategies as they both want the party to be on their side.

As the ruling coalition seeks to consolidate support, the outcome of these high-stakes discussions could significantly influence the legislative process in the coming weeks.

The meeting between Zardari and Maulana underscores the urgency with which the ruling coalition is working to ensure the passage of its legislative agenda amid emerging political alignments.

The flurry of meetings is taking place at a time when the sources in the ruling coalition said that it is busy contemplating that the retirement age of all superior courts' judges should be extended by two years to reduce the budget of pensions.

The Shehbaz-Bilawal meeting had also come amid reports that the government was envisaging constitutional amendments to extend Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa's tenure.

They said that the legislation will not be CJP-specific but changes regarding the retirement age will be introduced as an "economic necessity" and that will ultimately have an impact on many, including judges, among others.

A member of the ruling coalition, however, differed from the information, saying it is "not possible" as any such thing "requires constitutional amendment".

The PML-N-led government and its major ally, the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), legislative move extending the retirement age of superior court judges would require strong parliamentary support, especially after the ruling coalition was just deprived of the two-third majority by a Supreme Court decision.

On July 12, the majority judgment of the Supreme Court declared that PTI was a parliamentary party and entitled to get reserved seats. This pushed the ruling parties to not only challenge the decision but also amend the Election Act of 2017.

In the absence of the detailed judgment by the apex court and review petitions by the ruling parties coupled with amendments in the Election Act of 2017, barring legislators to choose a political party once they have exhausted the option, has complicated the situation and allowed the government side to come up with different amendments or new laws.

The political activities have gained momentum in the past couple of days, especially, after the president summoned the session of the National Assembly on August 26 (Monday) and the Senate on August 27 (Tuesday) under Article 54(1) of the Constitution.

Sources in the ruling coalition revealed that some crucial legislation is likely to be passed by the PML-N government with the support of its allies in the upcoming sessions.