Constitutional bundle has nothing to do with CJP Isa, Justice Shah: PML-N senator

PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui addresses press conference in Islamabad on September 25, 2024. — Screengrab via YouTube/Geo News
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui addresses press convention in Islamabad on September 25, 2024. — Screengrab through YouTube/Geo Information
  • Concern of amendments shall be resolved in subsequent two weeks: senator. 
  • Claims Fazlur has no reservations on amendments. 
  • “We wish Maulana Fazlur Rehman to assist us,” says Siddiqui. 

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui on Wednesday reiterated that the proposed constitutional amendments will not be person-specific. 

“Any constitutional modification has nothing to do with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa or Justice Mansoor Ali Shah,” stated Siddiqui whereas chatting with media individuals after assembly Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The federal government pushed the constitutional bundle amid hypothesis a few potential extension within the tenure of CJP Isa, who is ready to retire this month, following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) request final month for the early issuance of a notification relating to the appointment of the subsequent high decide. 

The PML-N, regardless of having the assist of its allies such because the Pakistan Peoples Social gathering (PPP) and others, had postponed introducing the constitutional amendments within the parliament whereas claiming to have secured the “magic quantity” earlier.

Nonetheless, deferment got here after JUI-F  refused to lend its assist to the ruling coalition, in need of 13 votes within the Nationwide Meeting and 9 within the Senate because the stated laws requires a two-thirds majority in each homes.

Talking on the stated matter, Senator Siddiqui stated that the difficulty surrounding the constitutional amendments shall be clarified within the subsequent two weeks. 

The PML-N chief additional stated that the JUI-F chief backed the formation of constitutional court docket, nonetheless, he stated Fazl didn’t need something within the proposed judiciary centric constitutional bundle that’s in opposition to the Structure. 

“Issues will enhance within the subsequent two weeks,” Siddiqui stated, stressing that Fazl doesn’t have reservations over the amendments and he solely has reservations on just a few minor issues that are being regarded into by his group.

He stated that the constitutional amendments shall be handed if the ruling coalition secured two-thirds majority in parliament. “There isn’t any stress relating to the amendments as that is an 18-year-old agenda,” he added. 

Following the “non-political” assembly with Fazl, Senator Siddiqui admitted that the federal government can not cross the constitutional amendments with out the JUI-F chief’s approval. 

“We wish Maulana Fazlur Rehman to assist us and if he satisfies the PTI then we could have no objection,” stated the senior PML-N chief. 

A day earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari stated that to date, his social gathering had agreed to the federal government’s proposal for the formation of a federal constitutional court docket.

Bilawal stated his battle for the constitutional modification was not for the present chief justice, Qazi Faez Isa. “Your agenda might be a person-specific, not mine,” he added.