PPP, JUI-F reach consensus on constitutional amendment draft

From Zeeshan Mirza

KARACHI: The Pakistan Poeple’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) have reached a consensus on draft of 26th constitutional amendment, announced the religio-political party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday night.
The ‘contentious’ constitutional package, among other things, aims to set up a federal constitutional court and fix the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for three years.
“After much deliberation, I can say this much that our two parties have agreed on a draft [of the constitutional package],” Fazl said while addressing a press conference in Karachi after meeting with the PPP Chairman.
He said they would meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif tomorrow and try to achieve his agreement, adding that he also had to meet the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership.
“We will make an effort to create such a consensus on this draft that it is unanimously considered a constitutional amendment,” he said.
The JUI-F chief noted that “serious” talks were held with the PPP as he praised Bilawal Bhutto — who spearheaded the government efforts for the contentious package — for playing a “big role” in achieving the consensus.