PM hosts dinner for parliamentarians, urges support for constitutional amendments

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a dinner in honour of parliamentarians on Saturday, urging them to uphold the sanctity of parliament and support legislative efforts in the national interest.

"Parliament is the supreme institution of the country," said the prime minister during his address. "It is essential to legislate in the best interests of the country and its people."

Shehbaz emphasised that national issues should be resolved exclusively through parliament and pointed to the government's success in stabilising the economy after averting the risk of default. He also noted the importance of political stability in sustaining economic progress.

"Enemies of the state tried their best to push the country towards default, but their plans were thwarted," the prime minister said. He added that there had been attempts to drag constitutional institutions and non-political figures into the political arena.

Reflecting on past leadership, Shehbaz mentioned the Charter of Democracy, signed by former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, which aimed to prevent unconstitutional measures. He called for unity once again to drive national development forward, stressing the need for consistent policies to safeguard the country’s future.

“The country was progressing under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership before 2018, but a conspiracy was hatched to remove him from the political scene,” he remarked, adding that this conspiracy had cost Pakistan dearly.

During the dinner, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar briefed coalition partners on proposed constitutional amendments that would establish a constitutional court within the Supreme Court. "The amendment is necessary to create a separate court for matters of public interest," Dar explained.

Parliamentarians from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and National Party attended the dinner. They assured the prime minister of their support for the constitutional amendments.

The prime minister also urged members to ensure their presence in the upcoming parliamentary session. A federal cabinet meeting has been scheduled for 11:30am on Sunday to approve the draft amendment, which will then be presented in the Senate later in the day.

The government is short by eight members to achieve a two-thirds majority required to pass the amendments, and efforts to secure the support of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman have thus far been unsuccessful.