Opposition forces rally against amendments, causing panic among the ruling alliance
Efforts still on to convince JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman to support amendments in parliament
Amid the turbulent currents of Pakistan's political landscape, the proposed constitutional amendments have seized the spotlight. The government is grappling to maintain control over the unfolding narrative as opposition forces swiftly mobilize, intensifying the pressure on the ruling coalition.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet has decided to file a petition against the amendments in the Supreme Court, and the government's former ally, Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has openly rejected the amendment draft.
Is the government losing control of its own narrative, or is this a high-stakes game of political chess with unforeseen moves yet to come?
After Maulana’s outright rejection of the proposed constitutional package, the coalition government has increased consultations with other political parties, aiming to build consensus on the constitutional amendments despite the setback.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's efforts to convince Maulana in closed-door meetings have added a layer of mystery. Meanwhile, the PML-N has Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi struggling hard to get Maulana’s support in the parliament to pass these amendments.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman in a meeting with a government delegation on the night of September 15, 2024.Nukta
The meetings with ruling parties come after Fazl "completely rejected" the constitutional package following a huddle with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders at former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser's residence earlier this week.
“We have completely rejected the proposed constitutional package, as the government itself admits there is no draft,” the JUI-F leader stated following the meeting.
He emphasized that the JUI-F never agreed to support the package and questioned, “If the government now claims there is no draft, what document was shared with us?”
Who will be the victor?
Who will reign over whom in this constitutional tug-of-war has captivated the minds of everyone in Pakistan since last week's unprecedented events.
Though PML-N ministers have expressed optimism in their media statements about securing parliamentary approval for the constitutional amendments, their facial expressions reveal a different story.
Sharing their future strategy, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told the media that extensive consultations with all political parties are ongoing. He noted that the draft has been shared with the major coalition parties the PPP, JUI-F, and others, and discussions held on every section.
Furthermore, he shared that the special parliamentary committee, which is reviewing the constitutional package, will convene in a few days to consider suggestions, including input from the Balochistan National Party.
Another lawmaker from the ruling party, the PML-N, Irfan Siddiqui said in an interview that the constitutional package is progressing smoothly rather than facing obstacles.
He noted that the coalition partners, the PML-N and PPP, are actively involved in the next phase of the process. Siddiqui expressed confidence that Maulana would ultimately agree to the amendments, which he believes will be passed by parliament with the support of the JUI-F and other parties.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of the main opposition party, the PTI, said the current draft being circulated has been rejected by his party.
Talking about their coalition with Maulana, a former rival, he emphasized that in politics, there are no absolute winners or losers. He said that they contacted Fazl at the call of the PTI founder Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media, Asad Qaiser explained that the JUI-F and PTI would have a unified stance on the issue of constitutional amendments and that they have decided to move forward with all matters through consultation.
What are the lawyers up to?
Earlier this week, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar met representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments.
He urged the organizations to publish the provided draft amendments online for wider access and emphasized incorporating lawyers' suggestions into the parliamentary committee.
A unanimous resolution was passed to form a committee of lawyers to work on the constitutional package, affirming that amendments must respect the constitution's basic structure and calling for consultations on establishing a constitutional court.
At the beginning of this week, the legal community threatened to initiate a movement for judicial independence and constitutional protection starting September 19, strongly opposing the proposed constitutional amendments.
However, the anticipated movement has yet to materialize, as the announced date passed without any significant action or unrest.
What unfolded on September 15?
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