ISLAMABAD: The special parliamentary com­mittee failed to evolve a consensus on the constitutional package, with the JUI-F advocating a “constitutional bench” instead of a constitutional court proposed by the government.

The committee which has the representation of all parties, including the PTI, met for the second consecutive day on Saturday amid reports that the constitutional package would be tabled in parliament by Oct 25.

A day after the PPP made its draft proposals public, the JUI-F shared its draft of proposed amendments with the committee under the chairmanship of PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah.

The committee will meet again on Monday (tomorrow) hoping to achieve the consensus, with the chair constituting a sub-committee to review the drafts submitted by both the government and the opposition parties.

The sub-committee will provide its recommendations to the parliamentary committee and includes Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar; PPP’s Farooq H. Naek; and JUI-F leader Kamran Murtaza.

Amid hopes for a consensus, the parliamentary panel will meet again on Monday.

A participant of the meeting from the ruling coalition said homework will be completed in behind-the-scenes meetings. They added that “we may have a consensus document ready before Monday’s meeting, leaving the PTI aside”.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, PML-N senior leader Irfan Siddiqui claimed that the committee was close to reaching a consensus on constitutional amendments, with key political parties aligning on major points. He said that the primary goal of the special parliamentary committee was to reach a consensus on constitutional amendments.

He expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions with the JUI-F, noting recent meetings brought a positive outlook. He said that the government’s draft, with suggestions from the legal community and bar associations, has been finalised.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also submitted a separate draft focused on local government reforms, although it agrees with the broader constitutional amendments.

“The PTI is the only party that has not submitted anything in writing,” Senator Siddiqui said.

According to JUI-F leader Kamran Murtaza, the only difference between the JUI-F and PPP drafts is that of the constitutional court. The JUI-F has proposed a constitutional bench instead of a constitutional court, he said. The JUI-F has no objection to the rest of the PPP’s draft, he added.

The JUI-F leader said the party was opposed to the constitutional court because it would be inappropriate to establish a separate court for only 200 cases.

PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate Senator Sherry Rehman said, “We are trying to bring the constitutional amendment with consensus.”