PML-N’s Allied Govt delays constitutional amendment on judicial reforms

Senate session has been postponed for the next ten days, while the National Assembly also adjourned without any further process on judicial reforms on amendment bill

ISLAMABAD: The allied government of Pakistan Muslim League (N) has delayed the constitutional amendments bill to be presented before National assembly today following short number and huge opposition’s resistance.

The allied government has to submit an amendment bill on judicial reforms before the National Assembly to enhance the age of the Supreme Court’s judges and make another Constitutional Court parallel to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the sources in Islamabad claimed.

The sources said that the government was not in a position to amend any constitution of the country until two-third majority. A senior member of the ruling PML-N party told reporters the government needed 224 votes (two-thirds majority) to pass this amendment.

If the JUI-F Chief Moulana Fazalur Rehman agreed to give his eight MNAs, this amendment bill could possibly be approved.

According to the source, Senate session has been postponed for the next ten days, while the National Assembly session adjourned without any further process on judicial reforms amendment bill.

Speaking at the Assembly’s Floor, Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif said that we don’t want to make parliaments a rubber stamp, when the draft paper on the amendment constitution would be completed, it would be presented in the house.

As parliamentarians, it is our duty to protect the legislation and the constitution, Khawaja Asif said adding that as a parliamentarian, we have to amend the constitutions.

He said that there was no politics agenda of the whole process, Asif said adding that when we will have a complete consensus on the draft, it would be presented to this House.

The Speaker has made a committee headed by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to develop a consensus of the parliamentarians, the source claimed.

The judicial reforms amendment bill have raised widespread concerns among opposition parties and independent experts who say the moves are aimed at increasing the government’s power in making key judicial appointments and dealing with the defection of lawmakers during house votes.

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