ISLAMABAD: Political temperature in Pakistan is expected to rise significantly after three major parties announced a consensus on judicial reforms through a constitutional amendment early Thursday, while former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said it would oppose them with nationwide protests.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been trying to pass a set of constitutional amendments since last month that the country’s opposition and prominent lawyers say is aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments.
The proposed amendments are expected to establish a federal constitutional court, raise the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modify the process for the appointment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The opposition PTI believes the amendments are meant to grant an extension to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is widely believed to be aligned with the government and opposed to its chief rival, ex-premier Khan, though the ruling administration has denied the allegation.
“As far as judicial reforms are concerned, we have reached a consensus, and there are other points where we are also close to reaching an agreement,” Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, said during a brief media interaction in Lahore.
Rehman had previously opposed the constitutional amendments proposed by the government, thwarting the ruling administration’s plan to table the bill in parliament due to inadequate numbers.
Sharif’s government needs a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament to push the legislation through.
With the country witnessing a stalemate over the issue, the government’s key ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), jumped into action, with its top leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari spearheading negotiations with Rehman to build a consensus.
The JUI-F and PPP leaders met the prime minister and other stalwarts of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday night to discuss the issue.
“Today’s meeting was very encouraging,” Rehman told journalists after holding the talks. “We believe that a system should be implemented in the country, and such reforms and amendments should be introduced in the constitution that bring reforms in every sector.”
He maintained that any past interference by state institutions in politics or actions taken by them outside their jurisdiction should be restricted through the proposed amendments.
“They [the institutions] should be confined to their duties, and parliament should be made supreme, with its supremacy strengthened and solidified, along with reinforcing the rule of law and the constitution,” he added.
Bhutto-Zardari also told the media that the intention behind the judicial reforms was “to ensure the supremacy of parliament and the constitution, and to provide prompt justice to the people.”
Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate are scheduled to meet later in the day to discuss the proposed amendments.
The PTI’s political committee has already reiterated its opposition to the amendments while calling for nationwide protests on Friday.
Rehman told the media he would also meet Khan’s party and try to get the buy-in of its leadership over the issue.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed the need for direct flights between Pakistan and Russia to enhance connectivity between the two states, his office said, as Islamabad warms up to regional countries in a bid to improve its economic prospects. 

Pakistan has recently pushed for enhanced regional connectivity with Central Asian countries and Russia in its bid to unlock mutual economic opportunities, particularly in energy, trade and infrastructure. The South Asian country hopes it can tap into its tourism potential and use its strategic geographical location to improve trade and cooperation with Russia and other states as it fights to ward off a prolonged economic crisis. 

Sharif met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit of the Heads of Government in Islamabad on Oct. 16. Both leaders discussed bilateral ties and economic prospects, Sharif’s office said. 

“He (Sharif) also emphasized the need for direct flights between Russia and Pakistan for enhanced connectivity between the two countries,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. 

The two premiers noted the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia ties over the past two decades. Sharif and Mishustin spoke about bilateral cooperation and agreed to pursue “robust dialogue” and cooperation in trade, industry, energy, connectivity, science, technology and education sectors, the PMO said. 

Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen political, economic, and defense ties with Russia. The two leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation at different international forums, including the United Nations and SCO. 

COLD WAR RIVALS

Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular business and trade interactions. 

Islamabad’s ties with Russia also saw a significant improvement in 2023 after Pakistan started purchasing Russian crude oil at a discount rate. The development came after geopolitical tensions almost doubled the fuel prices in Pakistan, forcing the South Asian country to opt for cheaper sources of fuel.

Last week, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari met Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an international forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where they pledged to further strengthen bilateral ties.

In September, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk visited Islamabad on a brief visit, seeking to expand trade and investment ties with Pakistan.