PML-N leader fires back, says judiciary enjoys independence due to political struggle
\n Islamabad
\nPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators on Sunday voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes in the Constitution via the 27th Amendment.
\nSenate Chairperson Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over today\u2019s proceedings, which were held to mull over the proposed constitutional tweaks.
\nSpeaking on the floor of the House, PTI Senator Ali Zafar reaffirmed his party\u2019s strong opposition to the proposed amendment, warning that altering the Constitution was akin to \u201ctampering with the foundation of a building\u201d.
\nHe likened the nation to a building, saying the government\u2019s actions were \u201cweakening its very foundation\u201d.
\nThe PTI leader expressed dismay over the pace at which the government was pushing for the proposed amendment, saying that constitutional amendments took a long time even when the country was \u201cunder dictatorships\u201d.
\nSenator Zafar rejected the proposed amendment, which, according to him, was introduced by a parliament with no \u201cgenuine public support\u201d. \u201cThis so-called parliament does not have the authority to amend the Constitution,\u201d he said. The PTI leader criticised the proposed judicial reforms, warning they would reduce Supreme Court judges to the level of Supreme District and Sessions Court judges.
\nSenator Zafar cautioned that the proposed judicial appointment process could threaten the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
\nPresented in the Senate a day earlier, the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment would introduce sweeping changes to the judicial system as well as the military command structure.
\nA new position, Chief of Defence Forces, will be created alongside the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
\nOther proposals included revision of the judicial appointments and transfers, and reducing certain powers of the Supreme Court.
\nSpeaking on the floor of the upper house of parliament, PTI Senator Hamid Khan described the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment as an attempt to \u201cbury the Constitution.\u201d
\nKhan emphasised the importance of consensus before any change was brought forward.
\nCalling the 26th Amendment \u201cthe death of the Constitution,\u201d he said that the 27th Amendment represented an effort to \u201cbury it completely\u201d.
\n\u201cThe 26th and 27th amendments are a matter of national shame,\u201d he said, warning that if the judicial system collapsed, \u201ccitizens would have nowhere to go for their rights.\u201d
\nSenator Khan asserted that those who vote in favour of the amendment \u201cwould not be able to justify their actions in history,\u201d adding that the move has \u201cdestroyed the judicial system and distorted the Constitution\u201d.
\nPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz\u2019s (PML-N) Senator Pervaiz Rashid dismissed PTI leaders\u2019 criticism of the amendments, saying they showed \u201conly the perspective that suited\u201d them.
\n\u201cJudicial independence enjoyed today was not achieved through the efforts of the judiciary, but through the struggles of the country\u2019s political activists,\u201d he said.
\nHe added that the judiciary took undue advantage of its independence.
\nReferring to PTI lawmakers\u2019 speeches, Senator Rashid said that the opposition appeared to have agreed to all other proposals for the amendment except the judicial reforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PML-N leader fires back, says judiciary enjoys independence due to political struggle Islamabad Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators on Sunday voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes in the Constitution via the 27th Amendment. Senate Chairperson Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani presided over today\u2019s proceedings, which were held to mull over the proposed constitutional tweaks. Speaking on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-513561","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n