The coalition government successfully passed the controversial 26th constitutional amendment, aimed at judicial reforms, yesterday, which has been deemed as the “bleakest moment in our parliamentary history” by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Salman Akram Raja.
The lawyer posted on X on October 20, “The bleakest moment in our parliamentary history is underway. A contrived body that should protect the basic constitutional value of an independent judiciary is about to hand over control of a suppressed judiciary to the executive effectively – Estab. Just 1 senator could save us.”
While Raja has called the amendments a move to “suppress judiciary”, netizens refuse to forget the PTI leader’s past opinions about the judicial system.
One social media user posted Salman’s tweets from 2021, in which he criticises the seniority principle in the elevation of judges of the top judiciary – a principle which has been amended through the 26th constitutional amendment.
In August 2021, Salman wrote, “I have always maintained, including in our exchanges in the press, that the issue is the credibility of those making the appointments, not seniority as a principle per se. Seniority is in fact no principle at all. But credibility is key. Each appointment needs examination by the bar.”
He also wrote: “Democracy is about interrogating power. The adoption of mindless seniority that stifles debate is acceptance of defeat. The credibility of those appointing is the key issue. Credibility is earned, doesn’t come with high office.”
Furthermore, in a Twitter debate about judicial appointments back in 2021, the PTI leader emphasised that “seniority stunts the system.”
Now, PTI strongly opposed the constitutional amendments and refused to vote in favour of the bill in parliament. The bill, containing 22 clauses, was presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in the Senate, where it secured 65 votes, a two-thirds majority in the Upper House.
The 26th Constitutional Amendment bill was tabled at the National Assembly following approval from the Upper House and passed with a two-thirds majority as 225 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill in NA, while the magic number in the Lower House was 224 votes.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council’s 12-member National Assembly (MNA) opposed the Constitutional Amendments In the National Assembly.
“225 members cast their votes for ayes, 12 for nos. Consequently, the bill is passed by the assembly by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the assembly,” the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, said.
Following the passage of the bill from the NA, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked, “Today’s amendment, the 26th, is not just an amendment, but an example of national solidarity and consensus. A new sun will rise, emanating across the nation.”
