LAHORE: In a meeting at Jati Umra, the residence of the Sharif family in Lahore, the ruling parties on Wednesday virtually succeeded in winning over Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F for their ‘judicial reform package’.

However, the parties still require cooperation from the PTI to achieve complete consensus on the constitutional amendments, which have become a bone of contention in national politics of late.

Besides PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minis­ter Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Punjab Chief Minister Mar­y­­am Nawaz, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan, De­­puty PM Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Karachi Mayor Mur­taza Wahab, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aura­ngzeb, and PPP’s Naveed Qamar attended the meeting.

After midnight, they held a press conference to brief the media about the outcome of the meeting. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said agreement on some points had been achieved and the trio was “near consensus” on some issues. He appea­red hopeful, saying they were heading towards consensus.

“After reaching Islamabad, I will talk to the PTI about the proposed amendments and try to take it on board,” he said, adding that amendments would be brought to strengthen the institutions.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the tweaks would be passed in parliament after an appropriate time. “The consensus that was reached between two parties, the PPP and JUI-F, on proposed drafts yesterday (Tuesday); today it is among three parties: PML-N, PPP and JUI-F,” said the PPP chief.

The Constitution would be protected and swift justice be doled out through the proposed constitutional court, he added.

PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said there had been an ag­­reement among the three parties on judicial reforms.

As these parties reportedly put final touches on their drafts, Maulana Fazl is reportedly adamant on his demand for a five-strong constitutional bench in the Supreme Court instead of a separate court as proposed by the ruling parties.

A senior PPP leader, said that the party would not budge from its stance on the formation of a separate constitutional court. “We are hopeful that the Maulana will eventually agree to our proposal,” he said.