ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday applauded and thanked all coalition parties for their support and cooperation in the process of 27th Constitutional Amendment. He expressed these views while addressing a banquet hosted at Prime Minister House, Islamabad on Sunday night in honour of government and coalition Senators.
The prime minister thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, leaders of all coalition parties and Senators. He said we all worked together for this Constitutional Amendment which aims to strengthen the federation, promote inter-provincial harmony, improve governance and serve the broader interests of the country. He also said that all coalition parties fully supported this national thought. He said whatever the milestones we have achieved throughout our tenure are a result of our joint efforts and support of coalition partners.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements and international esteem are a reflection of unity across our ranks. Highlighting the country’s gradually improving economic situation, the Prime Minister attributed it to political stability. He emphasised that we all have to continue working together for the development and prosperity of the country.
Also, PM Shehbaz Sharif instructed that the proposed constitutional amendment tabled by few senators from the PML-N, regarding immunity for the prime minister, be withdrawn immediately. In a post on his X handle, the Prime Minister said that as a matter of principle, an elected Prime Minister must remain fully accountable, both before the court of law and the people. Shehbaz Sharif said on his return from Azerbaijan, he was informed that some Senators belonging to his party have submitted an amendment regarding immunity for the prime minister. The PM while acknowledging their intent in good faith said the proposal was not part of the cabinet-approved draft.Meanwhile, the Standing Committees on law and justice of both houses of the Parliament Sunday approved the draft of a bill for a 27th Constitutional Amendment after some changes, Senator Farooq H Naek told reporters after the meeting that was convened to deliberate on the proposed amendment.
Naek said he and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had been authorised to make changes to some clauses of the bill, without sharing further details about the said clauses. Alongside him, Tarar said they would submit a report on the proposals finalised by the committees to the Senate today (Monday).
The bill for the 27th Amendment was tabled before the Senate a day before, hours after the federal cabinet approved it, triggering noisy protests from the opposition over the pace and scope of the proposed changes. That initial draft of the bill proposed changes to the military leadership structure, creation of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), changes to the appointment process for high court judges, and a higher cap on provincial cabinets. Subsequently, the bill was referred to the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on Law and Justice for further deliberation. The committees had also met on Saturday, and the session was reconvened on Sunday.
Senate Committee on Law and Justice Chairperson Senator Farooq H. Naek and his counterpart for the National Assembly panel, MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, co-chaired the meeting. Lawmakers from the PTI, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), meanwhile, continued their boycott of the parliamentary committee. Tarar and Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik were also among those who participated in Sunday’s meeting. Deputy Prime Minister and PML-N leader Ishaq Dar, too, briefly attended the proceedings. PML-N Senator Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Awami National Party’s (ANP) Hidayatullah Khan, and PPP MNAs Kasim Gilani and Syed Abrar Ali Shah were also among the participants, while PML-N MNA Shumaila Rana attended via video link.
During lunch break, Naek told the media that “discussions on three points were yet to be completed — transfers of cases from one high court to another high court, transfer of judges from high court to another high court and Article 243 (command of the armed forces).”
During another break, ANP’s Hidayatullah Khan told reporters that the committee had sought time until today (Monday) to decide on his party’s suggestion for changing the name of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Meanwhile, Tarar said it was decided that provinces be taken into confidence on changing the province’s name. MQM-P’s suggestion regarding local governments was also discussed, he added.
