UNITED NATIONS: Volker Turk, United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, taking to the X on Tuesday (22nd October, 2024) held that he was “that latest constitutional amendments – adopted hastily, without broad consultation and debate – will seriously undermine independence of the judiciary. Constitutional reforms must be in line with international human rights law”.

National Assembly of Pakistan had passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill with two-thirds majority here on 21st October. While the government needed support of 224 MNAs in the 336-member Assembly, it got 225 votes enabling the Bill pass with more than 2/3rds majority.

Bill sailed through the Senate on 20th October with the support of 65 (2/3rds) senators, bulldozing 4 votes against it. Earlier in the day, Federal Cabinet during a meeting held under the Chairmanship of the PM Shehbaz Sharif, had approved the final draft of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

Following a briefing on the final draft, given by the Minister for Law and Justice, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the cabinet made the best decision in the broader national interest. He claimed that following the stability of the national economy a milestone had been achieved for the rule of law in Pakistan. Thanking the coalition parties, he appreciated the efforts of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and others.

It is pertinent to mention here that on 21st October the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) termed the amendments a blow to the judiciary’s independence. ICJ Secretary General Santiago Canton noted: “They erode the judiciary’s capacity to independently and effectively function as a check against excesses by other branches of the State and protect human rights.”

Lawyers’ bodies here and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demanding its withdrawal expressed concern that the Amendment would transform the superior judges into OSDs controllable by the government.

Newspakistan.tv