LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said the 26th constitutional amendment is a clear message that the voice of the people should be the loudest and it will make Pakistan an “ideal democracy” in the world.

“The 26th constitutional amendment was indispensable for the supremacy of the Parliament. With the approval of this amendment, the Parliament has regained full constitutional authority and dignity,” the CM said in a handout here on Monday.

”With the amendment, justice will be met in a timely manner. It will make Pakistan an ideal democracy in the world. The chapter of positive reforms in the judicial system has opened with the passage of this amendment,” she said and welcomed the provision of abolition of interest (Riba).

She underscored that the judiciary had been made independent and strengthened, ensuring the public access to justice.

It proves opponents’ fears unfounded: PPP

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said those who once defamed judges and their families are now portraying themselves as staunch supporters of the judiciary.

“The approval of the 26th constitutional amendment has brought joy to proponents of democracy, while its opponents are enraged,” she said.

Ms Bokhari termed the amendment a victory for both democracy and the Parliament.

“The PTI is no longer a legitimate political party, but has devolved into a group of political orphans. The people of Pakistan have already seen the true face of the prisoner from Adiala Jail and his associates. The public is now wiser and will not be deceived by the tactics of Imran Khan,” she said, adding that the strength of democracy lies in the supremacy of the Parliament.

The minister said the name of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa should be inscribed in “golden words in the annals of the judiciary’s history.”

She said those who complained and obstructed this amendment had always been trying to create hurdles to constitutional amendments and lawmaking.

Similarly, Prime Minister

Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz termed the passage of the 26th amendment a victory for democracy.

“This amendment lays the foundation for sustainable and swift justice for the people of Pakistan.”

He said the tireless efforts by all democratic forces had been a part of the approval of this amendment.

“The roles of Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Bilawal Bhutto will always be remembered. Amending the Constitution is the right of the people’s representatives in the Parliament, which they have exercised for the welfare of the people. The clause for the elimination of interest was the voice of all Pakistanis’ hearts. We should offer thanks for this significant achievement,” he said.

The former Punjab chief minister said the bright and sustainable future of Pakistan was defined by democracy and the cooperation among democratic forces.

PPP: Pakistan People’s Party central Punjab general secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza says the 26th constitutional amendment proved assumptions of fears of all its opponents wrong that it’s some person-specific or blocking the way of a certain judge to become the chief justice of Pakistan.

“After the amendment’s draft was presented, all concerns were proven wrong. The concerns of PTI were that no such law should be made that would harm it and that too was found as misplaced,” he told a press conference here on Monday.

“The 18th amendment had curbed dictatorship, while the 26th [amendment] will curtail judicial activism that harmed democracy and the country much in the past.”

He stated that with the introduction of the 26th amendment, the Charter of Democracy stood fully implemented and argued that the step would help reduce the burden of the judiciary, previously entangled in constitutional issues and couldn’t focus on other cases.

He lauded party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto for strengthening the Constitution and said that for the supremacy of parliament and the Constitution he took PTI and other parties into confidence on the amendment issue.

“It’s Bilawal Bhutto who made an effort to get this amendment passed unanimously.”

Murtaza emphasised that PTI’s role had been extremely hypocritical during the process as it tried to extract NRO (concessions) for its founder in exchange for this amendment.

He lamented that the party had shown the same behaviour on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, whereas the ruling alliance desired political and economic stability in the country.

He questioned what should be said about a person who prioritised his (Imran Khan’s) meeting with his party leaders over national interests. “The PTI desired food reforms and not judicial reforms.”

In response to a question, Murtaza said that passing 22 out of 56 proposed amendments did not mean the rest of the proposals were impractical. “Many reforms are still needed, and those will also be passed unanimously.”

To another question, he challenged that if anyone has had evidence of foreign funding for the PPP the one must come forward and make it public. “The allegation of foreign funding against the PTI had been leveled by one of its own founding members and not by any opposition party.”

He told a questioner that the PPP respected Justice Mansoor Ali Shah but the supremacy of parliament is a matter of pride for the party. “Those who accuse us of rushing the legislation should answer why Qasim Suri as National Assembly’s deputy speaker had passed 54 laws in 30 minutes.”

At the end of the presser, a cake was cut to celebrate the passage of the constitutional amendment.

PPP leaders Rana Jawad, Aslam Gill, Azizur Rehman Chan, Faisal Mir, Chaudhry Akhtar, Mian Ayub and Ahsan Rizvi were also present.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2024