The sessions of both the National Assembly and the Senate will resume today at 12:30pm as the government continues its efforts to table crucial judiciary-focused constitutional amendments.
The ruling coalition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), have directed their members to ensure their presence, highlighting the importance of the upcoming proceedings.
The federal cabinet will also convene today at 10:30am to approve the draft law on judicial reforms. However, concerns raised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have cast a shadow over the government’s ability to secure consensus on these reforms.
Maulana's hesitation
Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed dissatisfaction over what he termed as a lack of consultation and haste in drafting the constitutional amendments. He emphasized that it is preferable to consult all political parties before finalizing any draft.
His objections have slowed down the government's mission to pass the reforms despite the apparent majority in parliament, particularly on World Democracy Day.
The government has made several attempts to convince the JUI-F chief to support the proposed amendments. Meetings between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and other senior leaders with Maulana Fazlur Rehman have so far yielded no results. Even high-profile figures like Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari have promised progress, but with little to show for it.
Inconclusive parliamentary sessions
The National Assembly speaker formed a special parliamentary committee to achieve consensus on judicial reforms. Initially composed of five members, the committee was later expanded with eight additional senators. Chaired by PPP leader Khursheed Shah, the committee has convened several times without reaching a breakthrough.
In a late-night meeting chaired by Shah and attended by Maulana Fazlur Rehman also, the draft was discussed but not finalized.
Despite a meeting of the National Assembly being called just before midnight, no action was taken, and the session was adjourned after the recitation of the national anthem.
Opposition’s demands
Both the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and JUI-F have demanded copies of the draft of the constitutional amendments before agreeing to support the government. JUI’s Abdul Ghafoor Hydari stated that his party will review each clause and decide on their stance only after receiving the draft.
Meanwhile, PTI’s Omar Ayub has accused the government and the PPP of playing political games without being transparent about the amendments.
PPP's Khursheed Shah, head of the special committee, acknowledged that the draft is still being finalized and will be presented to the opposition only after cabinet approval. Abdul Ghafoor Hydari has warned the government that at least a month will be required to properly review the draft once it is provided.
The government's attempts to secure the necessary numbers in parliament for passing judicial reforms face continued challenges. As the sessions of both the National Assembly and Senate resume today, the focus remains on whether the government can finally bridge the divide and move forward with its reform agenda.
