Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a leader of the Awam Pakistan Party, has spoken out strongly against the proposed 26th Constitutional Amendment. He expressed concerns about the potential impact on the judiciary’s independence, warning that the proposed changes could lead to increased pressure on High Court judges and a weakening of citizens’ fundamental rights protection. Abbasi also criticized the introduction of a Federal Constitutional Court, suggesting that it would diminish the role of Supreme Court judges. Additionally, he raised concerns about the potential expansion of military court trials, describing them as a direct assault on civil liberties. Abbasi firmly opposes any move that threatens the core values of the justice system. He has also previously called for Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to retire after completing his tenure.
Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), has expressed conditional support for the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, emphasizing the need for consensus among political forces. Rehman mentioned that efforts are being made to remove controversial contents from the draft, following public rejection of the initial government proposal. The constitutional package aims to establish a federal constitutional court and set a three-year tenure for the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The government initially faced resistance from both allies and opposition members when attempting to present the amendments last month, leading to a consultation process.
