Political Turmoil in Pakistan: Constitutional Changes Spark Controversy
Recently approved constitutional changes in Pakistan have stirred up a political storm in the country. The ruling coalition claims the amendments are necessary to regulate the judiciary, while critics argue that it is a move to consolidate power.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government successfully passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024, granting the prime minister the power to appoint the next chief justice and limiting the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers. The bill also introduces a new process for selecting judges and forming constitutional benches.
Opposition parties, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, boycotted the assembly vote and have condemned the amendments as an attack on judicial independence. Legal experts are divided on the issue, with some supporting Parliament’s right to legislate and others criticising the move as anti-judiciary.
Overall, the constitutional changes have sparked a heated debate in Pakistan, with concerns raised about the balance of power between the government and the judiciary.