PTI leader and Senator Hamid Khan has voiced his dissatisfaction with the appointment of the new Chief Justice, claiming that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is the rightful choice. Khan also accused certain members of the Supreme Court of aligning with the establishment.
He made these remarks during a lawyers’ convention at the Lahore High Court Bar, themed “Impact of the 26th Amendment on the Judiciary.” The event saw participation from several key legal figures, including Senator Hamid Khan, Lahore High Court Bar President Asad Manzoor Butt, and Lahore Bar President Mubashar Rehman, along with former bar presidents and legal experts from across the country.
Movement Against the 26th Amendment
During his speech, Hamid Khan announced the start of a lawyers’ movement against the 26th Amendment, stating that they aimed to overturn it. He emphasized the growing momentum of the movement and revealed that legal organizations had filed petitions requesting a full bench of 16 judges to hear the case.
Khan criticized the Supreme Court, particularly accusing some members of supporting the establishment. He expressed disappointment over the Chief Justice’s acceptance of the position, reiterating that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was the legitimate Chief Justice. Khan also vowed to oppose any attempts to politicize the Supreme Court through biased appointments.
Concerns Over the 26th Amendment
Khan further criticized the 26th Amendment, claiming it was passed without proper parliamentary scrutiny. He accused the current government of being a “puppet administration” and lamented that even key officials like the Prime Minister and the Minister of Law were unaware of the amendment’s details. He pointed out irregularities during the voting process, including allegations of horse-trading and forced votes from senators.
Call for Judicial Independence
PTI’s legal representative declared the 26th Amendment unconstitutional and reiterated that the lawyers’ movement would persist until it was repealed. He called for the judiciary to take a strong stand against the amendment and resist political interference.
In a similar vein, Ishtiaq A. Khan, President of Insaf Lawyers, addressed the convention, accusing certain groups of manipulating bar councils and appointing judges to consolidate control over the judiciary. He stressed that the legal community would continue their efforts to reverse the amendment and demanded that a full court hear the case, as was customary before the 26th Amendment.
The convention underscored the legal community’s firm opposition to the 26th Amendment and signaled an ongoing struggle for judicial independence and constitutional integrity.
