Tarar says alternatives exist for constitutional amendments' approval

Information minister maintains all preparations for the amendments have been finalised

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has stated that there are alternative options available for the approval of constitutional amendments. He made these remarks during an informal conversation with journalists ahead of the cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Sunday.

He maintained that all preparations for the amendments had been finalised. The minister added that while the government’s priority is to move forward with consensus on the constitutional amendments, they are prepared with other options if needed.

A National Assembly session is scheduled for 6 pm today, during which the draft of the constitutional amendment is expected to be approved. According to sources, cabinet approval of constitutional or legal bills is a legal requirement, and the meeting has been convened for this purpose.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has stated that discussing constitutional amendments with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is 'a waste of time.'

In a statement, Azma Bokhari said that no institution other than the parliament has the authority to interpret the constitution according to its own preferences, and the establishment of the constitutional court is being carried out according to the Charter of Democracy.

She further remarked that when a PTI delegation went to Adiala Jail to discuss constitutional amendments, their leader spent 45 minutes complaining about his grievances, Express News reported.

According to Azma, the PTI founder is seeking an NRO (deal) in exchange for constitutional amendments, which he will not get.

The information minister added that even after spending a year in jail, the PTI leader's mindset remains that of a disruptive group's ringleader. She criticised him for calling those individuals traitors, whom he had relied on to become the prime minister.

She also pointed out that revolutions are not brought about by drinking coconut and beetroot juice in jail. She further said many PTI members are fed up with the founder's anti-state activities, and he wishes for another event like May 9, which will not be allowed to happen.

Azma Bokhari concluded by stating that the Supreme Court's role goes beyond merely issuing decisions or explanations, and while reaching a consensus on constitutional amendments is a good step, she believes that engaging with PTI on the matter is simply a waste of time.

PTI announces boycott of 26th constitutional amendments vote

The PTI has decided to boycott the voting process on the 26th Constitutional Amendments in both the National Assembly and Senate.

The decision was made during a meeting of the party's political committee, where it was agreed that PTI would not participate in what they described as a "non-transparent" and "controversial" process.

In a statement, PTI argued that the current government lacks the moral, democratic, and constitutional authority to amend the constitution.

The party accused the ruling coalition of undermining democracy by imposing what it called the "law of the jungle" through these amendments, declaring a complete boycott of the vote.

PTI leaders meet Imran Khan

PTI leaders earlier visited Imran in Adiala Jail and found him uninformed about the constitutional amendment discussions.

After the visit, Gohar told the media at the K-P House in Islamabad that Imran had instructed ongoing discussions with JUI-F Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the amendments.

The meeting lasted 45 minutes, with the first 15 spent discussing Imran's conditions in jail. Although the party expected a more extensive consultation, jail authorities ended the meeting abruptly.

During the meeting, Imran emphasised the importance of upholding the constitution and conveyed the results of his discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, highlighting their agreement to collaborate on proposed amendments, Gohar explained.

Gohar noted that Imran clarified it was a "constitutional bench," not a "constitutional court."

Sources from the jail, meanwhile, reported that Imran expressed frustration with the PTI leaders for not following his directives during their visit. He criticized the delegation for failing to act on his plans, stating, "None of you have been of any use to me."

Imran also conveyed his disappointment with the party's recent efforts, remarking, "I gave you a plan to get me out of here, but no one followed it." He specifically condemned the lack of sustained protests and noted, "I told you to protest during the SCO summit, but none of you acted on it," adding, "If you don't implement the plan I've given, I won't be able to get out."

The meeting concluded without any clear resolution or strategy, leaving the PTI leaders without a defined path forward.