KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed confidence that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will assume the role of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) next month.
Bilawal also voiced optimism about securing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s support for the proposed legislation to establish “constitutional courts” — an initiative outlined by the PPP and PML-N in the Charter of Democracy.
In interviews with various news channels on Tuesday night, Bilawal discussed his party’s rationale for backing the ‘Constitutional Package’ and the potential compromises they might make as a coalition partner to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in pursuit of the “primary objective.”
He clarified that the draft amendments circulating in the media are not the official version.
The PPP chairman stressed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s backing is crucial for passing the amendment, and he reviewed the proposed constitutional changes at a Peoples Lawyers Forum (PLF) meeting on Wednesday.
When asked about the upcoming appointment of the CJP following Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement, Bilawal said: “Justice Mansoor will be the next chief justice, I have no doubt.”
He praised both Justice Isa and Justice Mansoor, citing their involvement in the bench for Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s case, and emphasized that neither should be dragged into controversy. He also commended Justice Isa for reducing his own powers by agreeing to the Practice and Procedures Act, aligning with parliament’s wishes.
Addressing concerns from various political parties regarding the proposed legislation, Bilawal said the PPP’s focus is on the establishment of constitutional courts, while the government is more concerned with age-related provisions. He mentioned that the PPP supported lowering the retirement age for judges, and the government incorporated this into the draft, proposing the CJP’s age limit at 67 with a three-year term.
He noted that JUI-F suggested keeping the current age limit of 65, but the PPP believes any age limit, whether 65 or 67, could be seen as catering to specific individuals. The PPP’s draft instead proposed term limits for constitutional courts, omitting any reference to age.
Bilawal stressed that without a two-thirds majority, the amendments cannot pass, making Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s support essential.
He added that while Maulana had raised significant objections to the draft, the PPP had also engaged with the government to address concerns regarding judicial reforms. The process of engaging Maulana was intended to follow a similar pattern, ensuring all committee members’ input before finalizing the draft.
Achieving consensus between the drafts would make surpassing the two-thirds majority easier, Bilawal said. While he hopes the process will move swiftly, he acknowledged it may take more time, stressing that Maulana’s involvement is key to success.
On Wednesday, Bilawal chaired a Peoples Lawyers Forum meeting in Islamabad, where detailed discussions took place on the proposed constitutional amendments, including the creation of a federal constitutional court, as reported by APP.
