Multan: The negotiations between the ruling coalition and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the judicial package seem to be unsuccessful.
A letter from JUI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman, has effectively ended the matter.
The government desires a two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass its desired legislation.
In this context, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif have separately met Maulana Fazlur Rehman, offering him a role in the government and power-sharing.
Offers included additional Senate seats and the position of Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the establishment also sent a message through Muhammad Ali Durrani.
According to reliable sources, Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed willingness to support the judicial package or amendments regarding the increase in the number of judges.
However, he rejected proposals to extend judges’ retirement age from 65 to 68 years and to revert the appointment process to the 1996 model, including increasing the number of names for the Chief Justice panel from three to five.
On Thursday, JUI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate officially informed senators via a letter that the government wishes to make some amendments to the constitution which have been kept secret.
All senators have been instructed to adhere to the party’s decision and not vote on the written constitutional amendments without permission, as per Article 63A of the Constitution.