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October 11 , 2024
Govt Botched Constitutional Package Issue, Says Bilawal
By Syed Irfan Raza
Islamabad: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticized the government on Wednesday for mishandling the much-debated constitutional package , which led to delays in its passage through parliament.
He also called for establishing a constitutional court not only at the federal level but also in all provinces and demanded equal opportunities for all provinces.
In an informal chat with a group of journalists at Zardari House in Islamabad, the PPP chairman said the government had tried to rush the constitutional legislation without proper homework or the backing of allies like the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
“When the government first tried to table the constitutional package in parliament over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), I was told that Maulana Fazl would support it, but later we came to know that he was not convinced,” Mr Bhutto-Zardari said.
He explained that the situation changed after the Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling that allocated reserved seats to the PTI. That judgment shattered the government’s confidence in securing the two-thirds majority needed in both the Senate and the National Assembly to pass the package.
In the initial draft of the package, the government sought to amend Articles 8 and 51 of the Constitution concerning reserved seats. However, the PPP chairman stressed that he was not in a hurry to pass the package, preferring instead to build consensus among all political forces.
“I believe the package should not be introduced in parliament without the consent of Maulana Fazl and Sardar Akhtar Mengal (president of the Balochistan National Party),” Mr Bhutto-Zardari said.
He stressed that he was willing to go to great lengths to convince Maulana Fazlur Rehman, adding that the package would eventually have to be passed.
Mr Bhutto-Zardari revealed that three separate drafts of the constitutional package were being prepared: one by the government, one by the PPP, and a third by the JUI-F. The PPP chairman said the JUI-F would share its proposals with him. “I will try to incorporate my proposals with that of Maulana Fazl and the government’s,” he added.
The PPP’s draft includes demands such as the formation of constitutional courts not only in the Center but also in all the provinces and ensuring equality among them, he said.
Asked whether Maulana Fazl would support the package, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said, “I am quite confident that we will secure his (Maulana’s) support sooner or later.” - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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