Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while talking to journalists in his chamber at the Parliament House said that the government has given me this space for a month to reach a consensus on constitutional amendments related to judicial reforms. He said that only the final document of the PPP has come out, while the draft has not been formally received from Maulana Fazlur Rahman. The PPP draft has been with Kamran Murtaza for over a week.
He said that if the government has a two-thirds majority and still wants a consensus, then it is appreciated. How long will the government wait and give us space, so I am trying my best to continuously engage and put an agreed draft before the government through political consultation. The government wants to work according to the constitution and law. The PPP has always made constitutional amendments by consensus. The draft given by the PPP includes the establishment of the Constitutional Court and also includes the proposed amendments in Article 175 A, B, D, E, F.
Chairman PPP said that some points have come out in the draft of the government. He has also asked the government to share the points other than judicial reforms. Of course, there will be some points according to the government’s own manifesto. PML-N has the right to amend the constitution according to the Charter of Democracy. The PPP has not linked its aspirations with the constitutional amendment and we have put forward the constitutional court and judicial reforms.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while answering the questions of journalists said that he is grateful to the government for agreeing to our insistence that there should be a consensus among all political parties. We have been given time by the government and we have been trying for it since September. He said that if there is no consensus, how long will the government wait? So far only the full draft of the PPP has come out and we have not received the JUI draft yet.
He said that a detailed meeting of the Parliamentary Committee took place today [Friday], in which all parties gave their views. The PPP presented its original draft proposals in the committee, which have issues related to the Constitutional Court. We presented this draft to all political parties including the government. Apart from this, the points of the lawyers after consultations by the government were also presented in this committee. The Law Minister held detailed consultations with the lawyers and the suggestions of the lawyers were also presented. Opposition parties also presented their comments. Maulana Fazlur Rahman reiterated his position that he wants to make a draft by consensus with the PPP. We also reiterated that constitutional amendment should be done by consensus with the political parties. Our efforts are for a consensus draft. We don’t want to just oppose any suggestion for no reason.
Chairman Bilawal while answering a question said that the federal government is very confident that they have the numbers. The Law Minister said that they have a two-thirds majority, but we are sitting here for all the political parties to reach a consensus on this issue. I appreciate their words, but since last month till now, efforts are being made to reach a consensus. But how long will the government give us space for consensus and how much time will it give us? In such a case, when the SCO conference is taking place, in that case, I am trying my best to establish a consensus. If the consensus takes more time than required, the government may use its constitutional right and move it. But it is our best effort and we have always maintained this position that a complete consensus should be established.