Recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan was approached with a petition challenging the 26th Amendment. Afrasiab Khattak, a veteran politician, filed the petition requesting an inquiry to determine if the two-thirds majority for the amendment was obtained lawfully or through unlawful inducements.
The petition also raised concerns about the constitutionality of certain provisions under the amendment, particularly those related to the judiciary’s independence. It advocated for a full court to hear the petition and emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of the constitution.
The petition highlighted that the amendment may have been passed under questionable circumstances, potentially involving coercion or unlawful means to secure votes. It called for annulment of the legislation if such malpractices were uncovered.
Overall, the petition underscored the critical need to safeguard judicial independence and prevent undue interference from the executive and legislative branches. It urged the court to carefully review and strike down any provisions that undermine the judiciary’s autonomy.
Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2024