\u2018With ifs and buts\u2019
\n\u201cWe are trying to remove the \u2018controversial contents\u2019 from the draft,\u201d says JUI-F chief
\n Islamabad
\nStressing the need for building consensus among all political forces, seasoned politician Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday showed a willingness to support the government\u2019s \u201cconstitutional package\u201d with \u201cifs and buts\u201d.
\nWhile interacting with journalists in Islamabad, the JUI-F chief said: \u201cWe can agree on a very suitable draft if our proposals are accepted [by the government].\u201d
\nThe 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.
\nThe government had attempted to present the bill to amend the Constitution last month, but its allies as well as members from the opposition benches vehemently opposed the proposal, forcing the administration to begin a consultation process.
\nFollowing a meeting of the Special Committee of Parliament today, Fazl said: \u201cWe are trying to remove the \u2018controversial contents\u2019 from the draft.\u201d He said that people have rejected the concept of the government\u2019s draft of the constitutional amendments. People are hailing the JUI-F\u2019s stance over the contentious constitutional amendments, Fazl stated, adding: \u201cIf parliament is representative of the people then it should not ignore their wishes.\u201d
\nResponding to a question, Fazl said that JUI-F and PPP would move forward towards a consensus draft, adding that the government should also take other allies into confidence over the matter.
\nTerming the government\u2019s amendments to the Constitution \u201cunacceptable\u201d, Fazl said his party would be in a position to vote in favour of the constitutional package if the government accepted the party\u2019s suggestions regarding the contentious legislation.
\nAfter reaching a consensus with the PPP, the JUI-F would share the draft with PTI and the Bilawal-led party would share it with the government, he added.
\nTo another query, the JUI-F chief stressed the need for restoring the 18th Amendment and abolishing the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, saying doing so would increase the parliament\u2019s role in the judicial appointments.
\nThe JUI-F leader was of the view that all the political forces should be brought on the same page over the draft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018With ifs and buts\u2019 \u201cWe are trying to remove the \u2018controversial contents\u2019 from the draft,\u201d says JUI-F chief Islamabad Stressing the need for building consensus among all political forces, seasoned politician Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday showed a willingness to support the government\u2019s \u201cconstitutional package\u201d with \u201cifs and buts\u201d. While interacting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":436687,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-436678","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n