In an interesting development, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has disclosed its key suggestions for the 26th Constitutional Amendment, suggesting the establishment of a constitutional bench at the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan as well as at high courts, reports said.
According to reports, all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have reached a consensus on the formation of a constitutional bench at the top court, and no party has objected to this suggestion.
Meanwhile, the JUI-F has also suggested in its draft that a constitutional bench should be established at the apex court and include the chief justice, besides the five senior-most judges of the SC, who will decide on disputes regarding the Constitution and its interpretation.
“The constitutional bench at high courts should comprise of the respective chief justice as well as three senior judges of the court,” the draft added.
The party also demanded to restore parts of the 18th Amendment to the extent of appointment of judges and amendment in article 175-A.
JUI-F also demanded the repeal of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), however, have so far not agreed to most points proposed in the JUI-F draft, reports added.
The coalition government remained unsuccessful last month when it tried to pass the constitutional package, but since then it has been aggressively championed, in a campaign led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, to get the required votes.
Meanwhile, to pass the constitutional amendment, the government is reportedly short of 13 votes in the National Assembly (NA) and nine in the Upper House (Senate).
