KARACHI: A lawyer representing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment, labeling it a “direct attack” on the judiciary.
Advocate Ashraf Samo argues that the amendment undermines the independence and supremacy of the judiciary, which is crucial under Article 199 of the 1973 Constitution.
During a press conference, PTI Barrister Ali Tahir expressed his concerns about the amendment, particularly its establishment of a special parliamentary committee, which he believes infringes on the Supreme Court’s authority to handle internal judicial matters.
He questioned the legitimacy of the government’s role in forming judicial benches, emphasizing that such responsibilities should remain within the judiciary.
Samo’s petition also criticizes provisions for call recordings as violations of personal freedoms and warns that these changes threaten judicial independence, potentially allowing undue executive influence over the judiciary.
He has requested that a full bench of five senior judges be formed to hear the case, arguing it represents a significant violation of fundamental rights and sets a dangerous precedent for governance in Pakistan.
