A gathering of legal professionals known as the All Pakistan Lawyers Representatives recently convened at the Supreme Court Bar Complex in Islamabad. During the meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed their concerns about the proposed constitutional amendments. The lawyers emphasized that while the parliament has the authority to make legislative and constitutional changes, these amendments should not undermine the fundamental structure of the Constitution. They insisted that the proposed changes, which reportedly include extending the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and judges’ retirement age, should not be pursued without consulting the legal community. Additionally, they urged for the prompt resolution of the Supreme Court Bar Association’s constitutional petition on Article 63-A.
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The lawyers also warned against any actions that could jeopardize democracy and the Constitution. They called for the government to engage with lawyer unions before finalizing the 26th constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, in parliament, the ruling coalition and opposition have been locked in a struggle over the proposed constitutional amendments. The government requires a two-thirds majority in parliament to pass these amendments, but has faced challenges in securing the necessary support. Despite efforts to win over key figures, such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the government ultimately postponed the introduction of the constitutional package. Opposition parties, including PTI and JUI-F, have criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the content of the amendments, stressing the need for open debate and approval in parliament before any changes are made.
