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N-League Government Faces Embarrassment Over Failed Judiciary Constitutional Amendments
The N-League government struggles with its failed attempt to pass judiciary-related constitutional amendments, facing backlash and delays.
ND
by News Desk
2024-09-17
N-League Government Faces Embarrassment Over Failed Judiciary Constitutional Amendments

The ruling N-League government is grappling with significant embarrassment following its failed attempt to pass crucial constitutional amendments related to the judiciary. The fiasco, marked by missteps and lack of political maneuvering, has left the government in a difficult position.

 

Initially, Mohsin Naqvi and Azam Nazir Tarar were tasked with negotiating with Maulana Fazlur Rehman to secure his support for the proposed amendments. However, due to their inexperience in political negotiations, they were unable to keep the discussions confidential. The matter was prematurely exposed on television, causing a major setback for the government.

 

The exposure of the negotiations ahead of time disrupted the government’s plans. Key stakeholders, including the People’s Party, other coalition partners, and several leaders within the N-League, were under the impression that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been brought on board. To their surprise, it was revealed that Maulana had not even reviewed the draft of the proposed amendments.

 

Efforts to resolve the issue included meetings involving Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and high-level attempts to convince Maulana through visits from the President’s House and Bilawal Bhutto. Despite these efforts, the government failed to secure Maulana’s support.

 

Official sources indicate that in such cases, discussions are usually kept confidential until finalized. However, the government's missteps led to the premature calling of National Assembly and Senate meetings without having a deal in place with Maulana.

 

The constitutional amendment package, initially scheduled for tabling last Wednesday, was delayed due to a lack of quorum. Although the required votes from PTI were secured, the absence of Maulana’s support further complicated the matter, leading to severe embarrassment for the PML-N.

 

PML-N sources acknowledge that persuading Maulana will now be challenging, but significant efforts are expected to continue in order to achieve the required support. The party recognizes that passing these amendments is critical to avoid potential political repercussions for the Shehbaz Sharif government.

 

In light of the situation, PML-N leaders assert that the matter cannot be abandoned and must be resolved within 15 days. They emphasize that despite the recent setbacks, the government's numerical strength and previous offers were undermined by the failure to secure Maulana’s backing.

 

Sources suggest that the future political stability of the Shehbaz Sharif government hinges on the successful passage of these amendments. Concerns have been raised not just about Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s potential appointment as Chief Justice but also about other underlying issues affecting the government's stability.

 

To address these challenges, it is reported that PML-N and PPP are making significant efforts to gain Maulana’s support, including offering positions such as Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal cabinet roles, as well as considering two Senate seats for JUIF.

 

As the government navigates this turbulent period, the focus remains on securing the necessary support to advance the constitutional amendments and stabilize the political landscape.
Tagged:

PMLN

PoliticalCrisis

KhyberPakhtunkhwa

ConstitutionalAmendments

JudiciaryReform
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