On Monday, key figures from the ruling coalition met separately at the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss critical legislation aimed at instituting a fixed three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and addressing perceived threats from the opposition.
President Asif Ali Zardari convened a meeting at the President’s House, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a session at the PM’s Office. Both meetings were part of a concerted effort to secure the necessary support for the proposed constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament for passage.
The proposed legislation needs 224 votes in the National Assembly to pass. The ruling coalition currently falls short by 12 votes. Gaining support from the JUI-F, led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, could help bridge this gap. However, the coalition would still need four to five additional votes. The ruling bloc is expected to secure a two-thirds majority in the Senate with JUI-F’s backing.
Amid these legislative maneuvers, PTI has accused the government of pressuring its members to support the bill. The National Assembly Secretariat confirmed that the bill would be introduced later this week.
Additionally, a bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 21, presented last week by Senator Abdul Qadir, is under review in the Senate.
During the meetings, President Zardari emphasized the importance of strengthening parliamentary democracy and political stability. He was joined by leaders from the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP). Despite an invitation, the JUI-F did not participate.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held a meeting with coalition lawmakers, urging their attendance in upcoming parliamentary sessions for the crucial legislation. Sharif highlighted recent economic progress, including a reduction in inflation to 9.6% and measures to provide relief to low-income groups.
He also condemned the inflammatory rhetoric used by opposition leaders at a recent rally, stressing the need for political stability and continuity in policies.
