JUI-F rules out Constitutional amendments sans PTI

• JUI-F suggests forming constitutional benches for five-year period.
• Kamran Murtaza says they cannot ignore Imran Khan-founded PTI.
• Claims CJP is mentally ready to retire due to booked Umrah tickets.

Amid the prevailing ambiguity surrounding the narrative of the prospective constitutional amendments being pushed by the ruling coalition, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has ruled out any tweaks to the Constitution without the Pakistan Tehkree-e-Insaf (PTI).

Speaking on Geo News' programme "Capital Talk" on Monday, JUI-F's Senator Kamran Murtaza said that they cannot ignore the PTI and that the Constitution cannot be called a consensus-oriented one if the Imran Khan-founded party is not on board.

The lawmaker's remarks come amid strenuous efforts by the incumbent government to woo the JUI-F in its bid to secure relevant numbers in the parliament to successfully pass the constitutional package provisioning a three-year fixed tenure for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) as well as the establishment of a constitutional court.

A day earlier, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman hinted at closing in on a consensus with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Speaking to reporters on Monday, the politico remarked that the government’s constitutional draft will undermine judicial freedom and the public interest, The News reported on Tuesday.

"It is our responsibility to create a balance among all the institutions. We have almost reached a consensus," said Fazl, adding that he would meet Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday (today).

His remarks came after PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP's Bilawal — who has already gone public with his party's proposed draft on the said issue — mulled over the prospective constitutional amendments over the phone.

The JUI-F has also shared its draft of the Constitution (26th Amendment) Bill, 2024 which proposes the establishment of constitutional benches — as opposed to a constitutional court widely advocated by the PPP chief — in the Supreme Court and high courts and re-appointment and extension in services of services chiefs.

Expanding on his party's stance on the constitutional tweaks, Senator Murtaza said that his party has called for the formation of constitutional benches within the existing structure of the Supreme Court for a five-year period which then can be changed later on.

The JUI-F leader further claimed to be personally aware that the outgoing CJP Qazi Faez Isa, who's set to retire on October 25, has booked tickets for Istanbul and Umrah reflecting his readiness — a move which reflects that he is mentally ready to retire.

It is to be noted that the PTI and the JUI-F, as claimed by former National Assembly speaker Asaq Qasier, will meet on October 17 for further consideration of the draft.