Alvi-Fazl discusss proposed constitutional amendment

ISLAMABAD: Former president and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central leader Arif Alvi met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad to discuss the proposed constitutional amendment, sources said.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja was also present. During the meeting, key political issues, including the government’s constitutional amendment package came under discussion.

Arif Alvi reportedly congratulated Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his logical stance on the proposed constitutional amendment.

According to sources, PTI founder Imran Khan has assigned a special task to Alvi to expand political contacts to garner support against the proposed constitutional package.

The PML-N-led coalition government is seeking to pass a constitutional amendment that would make significant changes to judicial structure, though it failed to secure the required majority in the National Assembly and Senate.

This has turned Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s residence into a hotbed of political activity, with both government and opposition members lobbying him to either support or oppose the proposed legislation.

The amendment is seen as crucial by the government, but political divisions have made it difficult to gain the necessary backing. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a key figure in the opposition alliance, holds considerable sway, and his decision could tip the balance either way in the upcoming vote.

According to the proposed constitutional amendment, the vote of any member who votes against their party’s directives in the assembly will now be counted.

The working paper for the 26th constitutional amendment has been released, detailing the proposed changes. Among the key proposals is the establishment of a “Federal Constitutional Court” parallel to the Supreme Court.

The chief justice of this new court will serve a three-year term, and the retirement age for judges has been set at 68 years.

Furthermore, it has been proposed that the vote of any member who votes against their parliamentary party’s instructions will still be counted.

The working paper also proposes giving the prime minister the authority to appoint the chief justice of both the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, based on recommendations from an eight-member National Assembly committee.

The proposed amendments include changes to Article 48 of the Constitution, which would prevent any court, tribunal, or authority from inquiring into advice sent to the president by the cabinet or the prime minister.