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GOVT DEFERS CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE FOR NEXT PARLIAMENTARY SESSION Tuesday, 17 September, 2024 I | 12 Rabi ul Awwal, 1446
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Dialogue started with Parliamentary Parties in both Houses on constitutional package: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
HE introduction of constitutional amendments package in both houses of the Parliament was deferred “indefinitely” after the government failed to muster required numbers to get the amendment passed from both Houses of the Parliament. The federal government again postponed its federal cabinet huddle as it failed to get the required numbers to get the amendment bill passed from both the Houses of the Parliament. Accordingly, the Senate session which was scheduled to start at 12:30 pm on Monday was adjourned sine die. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to fly to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in next few days, hence, the constitutional package is not going to be tabled in next few days. Sources told Pakistan Today that the government saw no reason in going ahead with the cabinet meeting as JUI-F chief
Fazlur Rehman refused to support the bill. Earlier, the government summoned the National Assembly and Senate sessions on Monday to table and pass the constitutional amendment after their failure to do so on Sunday. Speaking in the National Assembly on Monday, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the process of dialogue has been started with the Parliamentary Parties in the Senate and National Assembly on the constitutional package. He said it will be our effort to evolve consensus on the document. Azam Nazeer Tarar asked the opposition parties to come up with positive recommendations instead of undue criticisms, assuring these will be accommodated. He said our aim should be to provide relief to the people suffering over the last seven decades or so. The Law Minister legislation in line with the constitutional structure is the prerogative of the Parliament.
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 71 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
Asad Qaiser says PTI to fight against ‘undemocratic package’ at every single forum
HOLIDAY NOTICE The offices of Pakistan Today will remain closed on September 17, 2024 (Tuesday) on account of Eid Miladun Nabi. Hence, the paper will not be published on September 18, 2024 (Wednesday). The Pakistan Today office will reopen on September 18, 2024 (Wednesday).
PM Shehbaz to visit UK, USA ahead of UNGA session on Sep 21 ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Majority of proposals in constitutional amendment package revolve around judiciary
ISLAMABAD: (INP) The proposed constitutional amendment package has been made public, revealing a draft that includes a total of 54 proposals. The draft suggests introducing a constitutional court which will be called Federal Constitutional Court. It also proposes changes to the structure of the Supreme Judicial Council.
Additionally, there is a proposed amendment to extend the retirement age of judges by three years – 65 to 68 years. According to the proposed amendments, the current chief election commissioner will continue in office until a new CEC is appointed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to embark on a visit to the UK and the USA starting September 21, according to diplomatic sources. The prime minister will begin his trip with a two-day stay in London. Following this, on September 23, he will depart for the United States, where he is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 26. During his visit to the US, PM Shehbaz will also hold meetings with various world leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA session. He is expected to return to Pakistan on September 28.
JUI-F questions govt’s ‘secrecy’ around constitutional amendment draft QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD: (STAFF REPORT) A group of prominent lawyers, including Abid Zuberi, Shafqat Mehmood, and Munir Kakar, on Monday filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging a set of proposed constitutional amendments. The petition names the federal and provincial governments, the National Assembly, the Senate, and other relevant parties as respondents. The petitioners argue that the proposed amendments undermine the principle of separation of powers and pose a threat to the judiciary’s independence. They have urged the Supreme Court to declare the draft unconstitutional and block the government’s efforts to advance the amendments. In their petition, the lawyers have requested that the process of presenting the constitutional amendment bill in Parliament be halted. Furthermore, they have asked the court to prevent the president of Pakistan from signing the bill into law should it pass through Parliament.
ISLAMABAD: (STAFF REPORT) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday once again sought clarification from the government over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s possible military trial over his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots. IHC’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing on PTI founder’s petition against the military trials in the May 9 case that witnessed military installations being vandalised following his arrest in a graft case last year. “There is no clear answer from the government. I am giving you time to bring instructions in this regard,” said Justice Aurangzeb during the hearing on Monday. The court ordered the Ministry of Defence to give a clear stance on the next hearing after which the ministry sought time. The hearing was adjourned till next Tuesday (September 24).
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah on Monday was bewildered over the government being discreet about the content of the constitutional amendments, for which it is struggling to secure the required numbers in the parliament. “What kind of amendments are these which are concealed from the cabinet, ministers, allies and the opposition [alike]. The original draft of the constitutional amendments is not being shared”, said Hamdullah when speaking to a private TV channel. On the government’s attempts to court JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for support in the House, he said the entire government was looking forward to Maulana’s decision. Maulana Fazl has refused to support the government’s proposal to extend judges’ tenure or increase their retirement age, leaving the government-proposed constitutional amendment package in limbo.
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Lawyers petition SC against govt’s judiciary-focused constitutional amendments
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IHC seeks govt’s response on Imran Khan’s possible military trial in May 9 case