LAHORE: Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari not to bulldoze the 26th constitutional amendment through the parliament without a consensus.

In a written statement to journalists in Lahore on Thursday, Mr Qureshi said Mr Bhutto-Zardari, being a federalist, should realise that one unit of the federation i.e. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was not fully represented in the Senate and the lower house was incomplete.

Stating that he did not doubt Bilawal’s intent, rather was aware of his emotional commitment to the Charter of Democracy, Mr Qureshi said the nation was suspicious about the timing of the move.

He suggested the PPP chairman should listen dispassionately to what a “large section” of the legal fraternity and civil society was saying. He said they were genuinely concerned about the independence of the judiciary and viewing this constitutional package as an “assault on the judiciary, with a design to “clip the apex court’s wings”.

Alvi says democracy being undermined

“Without a proper debate in the parliament, without wider consultations with all stakeholders, the constitutional court you are trying to establish will be recognised by a large section of the society as a PCO court. Distinguished and well-respected individuals, taking oath will be identified as PCO judges,” Mr Qureshi observed.

Mr Qureshi said PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had demonstrated patience and flexibility, which gave the nation a unanimous constitution. “Any amendment in the unanimous constitution without consensus will not only undermine the independence of the judiciary, it will weaken the federation,” he observed and went on to state that it would harm Pakistan in the prevailing polarised environment. The 18th constitutional amendment had taken time, but it earned acceptability, he added.ALVI: Former president Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday claimed that democracy was being undermined in the country.

He accused the government of running the country in an oppressive manner, saying neither PTI founding chairman Imran Khan nor anyone else received relief under the Constitution.

The former president was talking to journalists outside anti-terrorism courts, where he met with PTI leaders facing May 9 riots cases.

“I have come to meet my heroes, who are making great sacrifices,” he said.

Criticising the proposed constitutional amendments, Dr Alvi said the Bhutto family itself might destroy the Constitution.

He also criticised Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, alleging that he (CJP) had created an environment of corruption in the parliament.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2024