LAHORE: PTI Senator and ex-president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Hamid Khan has warned the legal fraternity will launch protest against any attempt to limit judiciary’s powers.

Speaking at a presser at the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Wednesday, he expressed concern that the government seems to be attempting to curtail the powers of the courts.

He expressed surprise over the gossip about a ‘constitutional package’.

He said wherever such a package was introduced in the world, it is debated for months in the parliament.

Senator Khan said the parliament is not playing its role, and the prime minister is talking about a constitutional court.

He also expressed regret that the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the reserved seats has not yet been implemented, which amounts to contempt of court and sought action against those responsible.

Senator Khan warned that parallel courts to the Supreme Court and high courts cannot be established in the country and the appointments of so-called judges for new courts are not acceptable.

“If such actions are taken, lawyers across the country will resist the move,” he announced.

He also demanded that a notification for appointment of the new chief justice be issued. He condemned the abolition of the contempt of court law, saying the very forces that do not implement the court’s decisions want to abolish the contempt of court law.

Insaf Lawyers’ Forum-Pakistan chapter Presi­dent Ishtiaq A. Khan said Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa used to talk about the sanctity of the parliament, but he was doing nothing to stop new constitutional amendments.

He alleged that the extension in chief justice’s term was part of the ‘London plan’.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.