Bilawal, Ishaq Dar meet to strategise on constitutional amendment, discuss number game

Talks between DPM and PPP chairman focus on parliamentary number game and upcoming constitutional amendment.

Listen to article

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have held a meeting to discuss the current political situation and the proposed constitutional amendments.

The meeting took place in Bilawal’s chamber at the Parliament House, where Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar also joined the discussions.

Sources revealed that Dar and Tarar, after consulting with Speaker Asad Qaiser, met with Bilawal Bhutto in the presence of senior PPP leaders, including Khursheed Shah and Naveed Qamar.

The talks focused on aligning views on the constitutional amendment draft and reviewing the number game required to pass it in both the National Assembly and Senate.

Bilawal Bhutto also briefed the coalition leaders about his recent meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of JUI-F, during the discussions.

According to sources, the government delegation, including Dar and Tarar, is expected to meet with Maulana Fazlur Rehman shortly to present the constitutional amendment draft.

Reports suggest that Maulana had expressed concerns over not receiving the amendment draft, despite his support for the initiative.

The meeting aims to address his concerns and seek his endorsement.

Government officials, including Mohsin Naqvi and other key members, will also accompany the delegation to ensure all coalition leaders are aligned with the constitutional reforms.

The proposed amendments aim to reform the judiciary and constitutional institutions, including extending the tenure of Supreme Court judges and creating a five-member constitutional court to handle constitutional matters and reduce the burden on the Supreme Court.

A parliamentary committee will also be included in the Judicial Commission. The appointment of the Chief Justice remains undecided.

In the future, five names will be sent to the prime minister, who will then select the new Chief Justice.

Ishaq Dar has reiterated the proposal to establish a separate constitutional court.

The Chief Justice of the court will be appointed from among Supreme Court judges by the government, with additional judges also to be appointed by the government.

Meanewhile, the special committee of the Parliament, chaired by Syed Khurshid Shah from the People's Party, is scheduled to convene at 2 pm today.

The committee will deliberate on proposals related to constitutional amendments and judicial reforms, with a draft on the latter expected to be presented.

The session aims to foster consensus between government and opposition members on these critical issues.

Originally planned for 10 am at the Parliament House, the meeting was rescheduled following a request from the committee for additional time to resolve key matters after their morning session.

On the committee's recommendation, the National Assembly's meeting time was also adjusted from 11:30 am to 4 pm.

The Speaker of the National Assembly approved this change in timing for today's session.