PM Shehbaz Sharif Hosts Coalition Parties Ahead of 26th Constitutional Amendment

In a significant move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited lawmakers from all coalition parties for a lunch meeting today at 2 pm at Parliament House. This gathering precedes the National Assembly session, where the 26th constitutional amendment is likely to be presented.

Rescheduled Special Committee Meeting

The special committee meeting on constitutional amendments has been rescheduled to 11:30 am today, from its initial timing of 12:30 pm.

PPP and JUI-F Reach Consensus

Earlier, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) successfully agreed on constitutional amendments following their meeting in Karachi. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced the consensus during a joint press conference.

Key Points from the Agreement

• Rejection of Initial Proposal: JUI-F chief rejected the government’s initial proposed constitutional amendments, deeming them unacceptable.
• Non-Controversial Amendments: Maulana Fazlur Rehman stressed the need for non-controversial constitutional amendments.
• Inclusion of PML-N: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that PML-N will be invited to support the draft finalized by JUI-F and PPP.
• United Voice: The agreement aims to provide a united voice for the nation, constitution, and parliament.

Next Steps

With the PPP and JUI-F having reached a consensus, the focus now shifts to the National Assembly session. The lunch meeting hosted by PM Shehbaz Sharif is expected to foster further discussions and cooperation among coalition parties.

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