Constitutional amendments: PTI delegation visits Fazl again

A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation has once again visited Maulana Fazlur Rehman's residence to continue discussions on the proposed constitutional amendments.

The PTI delegation, led by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, included prominent figures such as Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, and Barrister Syed Ali Zafar. They were also joined by Hamid Raza, chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council, Express News reported.

During these talks, both sides engaged in detailed discussions on the ongoing constitutional reforms.

The series of meetings comes as consultations intensify, with other political leaders, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, also holding separate discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the matter.

Yesterday, Barrister Gohar stated that a consensus has been nearly reached with JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman regarding the 26th Constitutional Amendment, and a final announcement will be made after consultations with PTI founder Imran Khan.

Speaking to the media following a meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad, Barrister Gohar explained that PTI held a meeting with its allies, including the JUI-F chief, to discuss the constitutional amendments.

He stated that there was a strong possibility of reaching an agreement during the previous talks, and Friday's meeting further solidified that understanding.

"We are still in talks. Once we finalise our position, we will seek Imran Khan’s instructions. Today, we will request a meeting with him, and we aim to meet him tomorrow. Based on his directives, we will announce our final stance," Barrister Gohar said.

Furthermore, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has cautioned the opposition that if his one last bid to persuade them to vote for the much-touted 26th constitutional amendment failed, he would go ahead with the option of amending the Constitution with a two-thirds majority.

Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad on Friday, organized to commemorate the October 18, 2007 Karsaz bombing, Bilawal acknowledged that such a move might end up making the amendment controversial.

"I will return to Islamabad tonight to make a final try to convince the opposition," he said. "I will request Maulana sahib [Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman] one last time that this Constitution was enacted by your and our elders. Let's forget today's politics, today's circumstances and conflicts for the sake of the Constitution."

Bilawal reiterated that the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had agreed to the changes in the draft law as proposed by the JUI-F chief by giving up their demand for establishing a constitutional court in favour of a constitutional bench within the Supreme Court.

He added that they had also given up their demand to include Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in that constitutional bench owing to rejection of his nomination by the opposition.