ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s 26th Constitutional Amendment is facing first legal challenge as a case has been lodged in the Supreme Court against tweaks that emerged from two months of intense political negotiations and compromises.
The petition was filed by Muhammad Anas, represented by his lawyer Adnan Khan, with the federal government named as the respondent. The application argues that while Parliament has the authority to legislate, amendments must be passed by a two-thirds majority vote. It further claims that Parliament should not interfere with judicial matters, asserting that the 26th Amendment undermines the constitution’s fundamental structure and the separation of powers.
The petition highlights that the amendment significantly alters the appointment process for the chief justice and the judicial commission, shifting the power to appoint judges from a seniority-based system to the government.
Anas is requesting that the Supreme Court annul the 26th Constitutional Amendment, citing violations of judicial independence and basic rights. The court’s decision on this challenge could have far-reaching implications for the judiciary and legislative authority in the country.
Understanding 26th Amendment: All you need to know about Judicial Changes in Pakistan
