PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Monday that a PML-N delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had visited him and President Asif Ali Zardari, seeking their support for the approval of a 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Separately, the PPP also issued a similar statement that quoted Bilawal as saying that the proposal included setting up constitutional courts, restoring executive magistrates and the matter of transfer of judges. It also included the end of protection for the provincial share under the National Finance Commission and amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution, which pertains to the command of armed forces, the statement further quoted Bilawal as saying.
He added that the proposed amendment also included a provision about the return of the subjects of education and population planning to the federation and a point about ending the stalemate regarding appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Bilawal said a session of the PPP’s central executive committee (CEC) had been called after President Zardari’s return from Doha on November 6 for deciding the party policy on the matter.
A subsequent post by the PPP said the CEC session would be held at Bilawal House in Karachi, where overall political situation in the country would also be discussed.
Later, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik confirmed while speaking to the media that discussions regarding the amendment had been and were still ongoing, adding that, however, they had not properly started working on the preparation of a draft.
Referring to Bilawal’s statement, he also outlined the proposal’s salient features and provided brief explanations for their inclusion.
The state minister said the establishment of constitutional courts remained an “unfinished agenda” and also underscored the need for changes regarding the executive magistrate so that the burden on courts could be reduced.
Regarding population explosion, he said the “menace” had to be addressed and it needed a “federal approach”. Similarly, he continued, a lack of cohesion was observed among provinces in the area of education in terms of quality and curriculum.
“And even when we see this matter in the context of terrorism in the country – and there is also an element of radicalisation – I think there should be an oversight at the federal level,” he said, emphasising the need for a uniform and single curriculum across the country.
Moreover, the minister pointed out that it was for the first time after the promulgation of the 1973 Constitution that an official had been elevated to the position of Field Marshal.
Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir was made Field Marshal following a four-day escalation between India and Pakistan in May.
Malik said this development, too, had to be addressed in the constitutional scheme of things and recognised, making a case for amendments to Article 243.
Asked whether the government intended to make amendments to this constitutional provision only with this intent, the state minister replied they had not moved on to the step of fine-tuning things yet.
On the deadlock over the appointment of the chief election commissioner, Malik was asked whether the government intended to end the role of the opposition leader in the process.
To that, he said it was not so, but the deadlock also had to be addressed. “If a situation arises that there is no opposition leader and the process is facing delays [due to that], you have to [find a way out.”
Regarding the inclusion of the NFC in the proposal, he acknowledged that it required political consensus, “which we are developing with our allies”.
NA to meet tomorrow
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday summoned the session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 5 at 5:00 pm in the Parliament House, Islamabad.
The session commencing on 5th November is the 21st session of the current National Assembly.
Separately, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has convened a meeting of parliamentary leaders for November 5 in the Parliament House, here.
The meeting, to be chaired by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, will formulate the strategy for the forthcoming session of the House.