ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Barrister Gohar, stated that his party supported the constitutional amendment draft proposed by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The PTI Chairman called on the government to share the draft with the PTI to ensure transparency in the ongoing negotiations.
Read more: Key points of constitutional amendment come to light
“We are currently engaged in discussions with the government” Barrister Gohar remarked.
He warned that if the government did not change its approach, the PTI would reconsider its participation in the negotiation process.
Barrister Gohar noted that significant agreements have already been reached with Maulana Fazl. He said that another meeting was scheduled for the following day to finalise the details.
Meanwhile, the JUI-F chief welcomed the PTI delegation and detailed the ongoing discussions with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government regarding the proposed constitutional amendments.
He stated that he had consulted ‘extensively’ with the PTI leadership on the draft and had also engaged in discussions with government representatives.
The Maulana mentioned a five-hour long consultation with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Zardari in Karachi, where different points of the proposed amendment were discussed.
The JUI-F chief reported that some sections of the draft have been agreed upon during the discussions held at Nawaz Sharif’s residence.
He said that as the largest party in Opposition sitting in the Parliament, the PTI’s input could not be overlooked in the amendment process.
“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has shown a positive attitude towards the constitutional draft”, the Maulana stated.
Maulana Fazl also called for an increase in the number of members in the special parliamentary committee responsible fo reviewing the constitutional amendments.
He proposed that representatives from the bar council and other political parties be included in the committee to ensure a more ‘comprehensive’ approach to the proposed changes.
Read more: KP assembly resolution seeks lifetime blue passports for MPAs, families
However, the Maulana expressed concern over the government’s handling of the situation. He stated that while negotiations were onging, the PTI members were facing harassment, threats and bribery attempts.
He warned that if the PML-N led government’s attitude did not change by the following morning, the negotiation process could be jeopardised.
“All our members will be bound to vote according to party policy”, he hinted ominously.