History made at night

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) on Wednesday night signed the draft of constitutional package on 18th Amendment Bill with consensus, resolving the thorny issues of renaming of NWFP and appointment of judges of superior courts. Reliable sources told Business Recorder that PCCR Chairman Main Raza Rabbani is likely to present the draft of the 18th Amendment Bill 2010 in the Parliament on Friday.
-- 'Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa' to be new name of NWFP;
-- PML-Q, PPP-Sherpao give dissenting notes;
-- CJP to nominate 7th member of proposed judicial commission
Before tabling the draft, the committee would present its report to National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza. Sources said the committee unanimously approved 'Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa' as the new name of NWFP. However, sources said Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) and Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) decided to write notes of dissent, showing their disagreement over the new name. Sources said PML-Q was of the view that the name of NWFP should have been 'Sarhad' while Sherpao proposed 'Pukhtoonkhwa,' which had already been approved by the NWFP Assembly.
The sources quoted Aftab Ahmed Sherpao as saying: "If we want to change the name of NWFP which has already been approved by the provincial assembly, we should have placed a resolution before the provincial assembly for its passage." According to sources, the PCCR also unanimously decided that the Chief Justice of Pakistan would nominate the 7th member of the Judicial Commission.
The nominated person could be an ex-chief justice or a retired judge of the Supreme Court. The PCCR held as many as 77 marathon meetings to prepare the draft of 18th Amendment Bill. Earlier, a signing ceremony was held in the Parliament House in Committee Room-2.
All the members except Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Chief who could not sign the draft for being absent signed the document while Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo signed the draft on behalf of Dr Abdul Malik. The signing of the draft bill was welcomed with desk-thumping applause. National Assembly Secretary Karamat Hussain Niazi and Senate Secretary Raja Muhammad Ameen also singed the draft.
After the signing ceremony, PCCR Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani told members that the draft was prepared in the best national interest. He congratulated the nation and the members of the committee. He said it was a difficult task, but the political leadership had shown sagacity in developing consensus on the bill, acted above party affiliations and worked for strengthening the Federation.