ISLAMABAD:
After failing to gain the support of its former ally, the JUI-F, for passing a controversial constitutional amendment package, the ruling party has now sought to address the concerns of the legal community.

Key representatives from the legal fraternity have been invited to review the proposed amendments and provide their recommendations.

In a meeting between Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), it was agreed that a committee, made up of bar representatives, will assess the proposals, which include the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court.

The committee will consist of the vice chairman and executive committee chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, the president and general secretary of the SCBA, and the vice chairmen and executive committee chairmen of the provincial bar councils. This committee is expected to submit its report within seven days, and the legal community’s input will be incorporated into the final draft of the amendment package.

After the meeting, the SCBA issued a statement recognizing parliament’s authority to amend the Constitution but also cautioning that such changes should not violate its core structure. The SCBA emphasized that the creation of a constitutional court should involve consultation with lawyers and called for the hearing of its petition regarding the judicial decision on Article 63-A.

Tarar, addressing various legal organizations, reiterated that constitutional legislation is the prerogative of parliament. He explained that the proposed Federal Constitutional Court would include representation from all federal units, and its establishment has been a demand in the Charter of Democracy signed by former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.

The constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, aims to define the scope of suo motu powers under Article 184, and the creation of this court is also part of the PML-N’s broader plan to reform the justice system.

Senior lawyer and PPP leader Senator Farooq H. Naek expressed his support for the establishment of a constitutional court, noting that similar courts exist in many Western democracies. He suggested forming a committee to develop the court’s framework in the national interest, with the bar councils’ input before finalizing its creation.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar highlighted ongoing consultations with all political parties on the proposed constitutional amendments, aiming for consensus both inside and outside parliament. He praised the law minister’s role in leading these efforts.