In a bid to build grand national consensus for the upcoming 26th Constitutional Amendment being piloted by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP’s Human Rights Cell PPP HRC organized a dialogue with Civil society in Karachi to solicit their input for the proposed amendment, which included judicial reforms.
The consultative dialogue was held at Sindh Assembly’s Committee Room where Nisar Khuhro President PPP Sindh, Minister Saeed Ghani General Secretary PPP HRC Malaika Raza, MNA Nafisa Shah, Senator Zameer Ghumro and former Sindh HR minister Surendar Valasai addressed various concerns raised during the session.
Nisar Khuhro said that the amendment being pursued by the PPP Chairman was overdue as it was the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to have a constitutional court to cater to the needs of interpretation of the Constitution and save the huge time Supreme Court spending on political and constitutional matters. “Judicial activism needs to be aligned with the expectations of the poor litigants instead of treading on warring political narratives,” he said.
Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani deliberated on the history of judiciary where in the Supreme Court allowed a dictator to amend the Constitution for three days and the CJP had the audacity to talk about the Constitution’s protection. Another CJP demolished people’s homes, while his predecessor reportedly gave decisions under the instructions of his mother in law to favour PTI.
Dr Nafisa Shah said that around 80 democratic countries in the world have separate Constitutional Courts to adjudicate constitutional matters and disputes. She appreciated Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for leading the national debate on the 26th Amendment.
Senator Zamir Ghumro gave a detailed presentation about the needs for the Constitutional Amendment and gave answers to the questions by civil society members present there.
He said that 26th Constitutional Amendment was part of the unfinished agenda of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) orchestrated by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto together with different political parties in 2006.
Malaika Raza acknowledged the vital role of civil society in shaping public policy and emphasised the PPP’s commitment to inclusivity and transparency. “We appreciate the insights and concerns shared by civil society members. Their perspective is crucial in ensuring that our legislative efforts align with the needs of the public,” she stated.
Raza reiterated the PPP’s stance on the amendment process, clarifying that the party is dedicated to addressing the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders. “Our aim is to establish constitutional courts to better serve the people of Pakistan. This initiative is about reforming our system, not targeting individuals,” she noted.
She also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to transparency, stating, “While the draft is still being finalized, we are open to dialogue and constructive feedback from civil society to enhance the quality of our proposals.”
The PPP remains focused on fostering collaboration with civil society to ensure that constitutional reforms are inclusive, effective, and in the best interest of the nation.
Anis Haroon, Tahir Hassan Khan, Yasmeen Shah, Sana Rahmoon, Ishaq Soomro and other civil society members attended the dialogue. PLF delegation comprised Qazir Bashir Ahmed, Sharfuddin Jamali, Tassaduq Nadeem and others was also present on the occasion.