CJP summons full court meeting on 27th Constitutional Amendment

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has convened a full court meeting to deliberate on the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed earlier by both houses of Parliament

According to sources, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has called the meeting on Friday.

The full court is likely discuss matters related to the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

It is pertinent to mention that three Supreme Court judges had written a letter requesting the chief justice to convene a full court meeting.

Justice Salahuddin Panhwar had also written to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, urging a clause-by-clause review of the 27th Amendment and the calling of a full court session.

According to sources, Justice Panhwar stated in his letter that he was writing not in protest but as a matter of duty.

He suggested that a full court meeting be held to examine the amendment in detail so that the basic structure of the Constitution and institutional balance are not affected.

He further proposed that the “Law and Justice Commission” and other policy-making bodies be consulted on this crucial constitutional matter, adding that the 27th Amendment could potentially disturb the balance of powers.

Earlier, after Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah had also written a letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, urging him to convene a full court meeting on the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

In his letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Athar Minallah called for a conference to deliberate on the threats facing the judiciary.

He expressed regret that the Supreme Court had at times been used as a tool by the “unelected elite” to suppress public opinion.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in his letter to the chief justice, had warned that if the judiciary did not remain united, its independence and judgments would be compromised. He wrote that history does not remember those who stayed silent but honours those who stood for the supremacy of the Constitution.

Earlier, the Senate passed the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill for the second time amid strong protests from the opposition benches.

Announcing the result, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani said the bill received 64 votes in favour and four against.
“The motion is therefore carried by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the Senate, and consequently, the bill stands passed,” he declared.