Concerns Over Recent Constitutional Amendments Shah Mehmood Qureshi also paid tribute to Maulana Fazlur Rehman

Rising Urgency and Opposition

There are concerns about the recent push for more than 50 constitutional amendments, with critics questioning the urgency behind them. The legal community has voiced strong opposition, arguing that these amendments threaten the very foundation of the constitution. A message was sent to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reminding him that his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, crafted the 1973 constitution through a consensus-driven process. Critics claim that these proposed changes risk undermining the legacy of Bhutto’s constitution.

Judicial Independence at Risk

Shah Mahmood Qureshi has raised alarms about the proposed amendments, suggesting they constitute an attack on judicial independence. He highlighted that Pakistan’s lawyers have historically fought hard to uphold the constitution, implying that such amendments could significantly erode its credibility. According to Qureshi, altering the constitution in a way that undermines its credibility is itself unconstitutional.

Potential Issues with Parliament and Governance

Qureshi further argued that allowing floor crossing could lead to a chaotic situation in Parliament, comparing it to a “goat market.” He emphasized that the current Parliament is incomplete, noting that PTI has yet to receive its reserved seats. According to him, an incomplete Parliament lacks the legitimacy to pass such significant amendments. Additionally, he criticized the notion of granting the government the power to appoint and transfer members of the judiciary, asserting that it distorts the original spirit of the 1973 constitution.