Islamabad: Constitutional amendments are at the forefront of political tensions in Pakistan. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared its firm opposition to any upcoming constitutional amendments proposed by the government. This stance was made clear during a recent parliamentary session, where PTI lawmakers staged a walkout as the voting on the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment began.
PTI leaders argue that the new amendment could lead to political interference in judicial matters. They claim it may impact the appointment process for the chief justice and Supreme Court judges. This would grant excessive influence over the judiciary to parliament, a scenario PTI finds unacceptable.
The party’s latest statement follows discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto regarding the anticipated “27th constitutional amendment.” PTI’s Sheikh Waqas Akram emphasized, “Whether it is the 27th constitutional amendment or 28th, the PTI will oppose it.”
Akram also criticized the government’s actions, suggesting that if it were not fearful, it would not resort to house raids on PTI lawmakers or the alleged abduction of supporters. He raised questions about the selective calls for consensus, stating, “Why is the demand for consensus raised only when it concerns PTI?”
Additionally, he defended Bushra Bibi, asserting that she has no interest in politics. He reiterated the PTI founder’s directive that family members will not enter politics. Akram stated, “We will support any family member advocating for the founder’s release.” He added, “It is not politics when a wife steps forward for her husband, or sisters for their brother.” The party remains focused on securing the release of its leader.
In other news, there are reports concerning the removal of Faisal Chaudhry from the party’s legal team. Akram confirmed that Salman Akram Raja is now heading PTI’s legal committee. He expressed respect for Faisal, stating, “Faisal is like a brother to me.” However, he noted that Faisal has not been hired for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s cases.
Chaudhry addressed his reported removal during a private TV channel program. He mentioned that he filed a petition on the direction of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. He stated, “If I am delivering, then I will be around; if I can’t then my client has the right to have any other lawyer.” Chaudhry acknowledged the competitive nature among lawyers, saying, “Lawyers are jealous of each other’s success.”
As the PTI remains resolute against any constitutional amendments, the political landscape in Pakistan continues to evolve.
