ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet meeting, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, concluded on Friday without approving the proposed constitutional amendments, according to ABBTAKK News.
Sources indicated that the meeting was convened with the expectation of approving the amendments, but no decision was reached. Another cabinet meeting is scheduled for Saturday at 9:30 am.
Earlier, Syed Khursheed Shah, chairman of the special parliamentary committee formed to discuss the amendments, claimed that the draft was approved unanimously. However, Amir Dogar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who is also a member of the committee, contested this assertion, stating that he opposed the draft and it was not passed unanimously.
The special parliamentary committee included both government and opposition members, and was chaired by Syed Khursheed Shah from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The meeting featured participation from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, PTI’s Amir Dogar, JUI-F’s Shahida Akhtar Ali, Irfan Siddiqui from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Syed Aminul Haq from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and PPP leaders Raja Pervez Ashraf and Sherry Rehman, along with Chaudhry Salik Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Following the meeting, Syed Khursheed Shah reiterated that the draft would be presented for approval in the federal cabinet.
Previously, on October 17, the PML-N, PPP, and JUI-F reached an agreement on proposed constitutional amendments related to judicial reforms after lengthy discussions at Jati Umra in Lahore. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a press briefing.
The meeting at Jati Umra, the Sharif family residence, included prominent figures such as President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Ishaq Dar noted that there was a consensus among the three parties on judicial reforms, stating that these changes would lead to a more efficient judicial system. Maulana Fazlur Rehman added that while consensus on judicial reforms had been achieved, efforts were ongoing to find agreement on additional issues.
