Constitutional amendment draft ‘not final’: Azam Nazeer Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday clarified that the circulating constitutional amendment package is provisional and will not be finalized until it receives approval from the cabinet.

Speaking at a key session of the legal community to address controversial constitutional amendments proposed by the coalition government, called for the establishment of a separate constitutional court in accordance with globally recognized practices.

Tarar also requested input from lawyers regarding the appropriate retirement age for judges, suggesting the options of either 65 or 68 years.

The federal minister was speaking to lawyers after an in-camera session with the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), where the proposed amendments were reviewed and discussed. These changes have posed a challenge for the coalition government, as passing them in parliament requires a two-thirds majority, which the government currently lacks.

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The event was attended by key figures from the legal community, including SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat, PBC Vice Chairman Farooq H. Naek, Law Minister Tarar, and other senior lawyers. Tarar explained that any constitutional amendment is first approved by the cabinet before being presented in parliament, where it requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

He clarified that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not ruling the country independently, stating, “We are part of a coalition government.”

Tarar also emphasised that the proposed “constitutional package” stems from the “Charter of Democracy” signed by the PML-N and its major ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), in 2006, which included recommendations for judicial reforms.

He further elaborated that discussions were held with the PPP between January and March, focusing on judiciary-related reforms through constitutional amendments, driven by the ally party’s aim to “complete the agenda of the Charter of Democracy.