A constitutional petition has been filed in the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry challenging the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The petitioner, Barrister Ali Tahir, argues that the proposed amendment aims to curtail the powers of high courts and could undermine judicial independence.
The petition lists the federal government, the chairman of the Senate, the speaker of the National Assembly, and other relevant parties as respondents. It states that the amendment seeks to restrict the constitutional jurisdiction of the high courts, which would amount to a violation of the judiciary’s established constitutional authority.
The petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to immediately halt the portions of the amendment that may weaken judicial independence or interfere with the constitutional functioning of the courts.
The petition points to the precedent set in the 2007 judgment, where the Supreme Court barred judges from taking an oath under the PCO, asserting that the protection of judicial independence was the top priority then and remains equally vital today.
It further notes that international judicial precedents also emphasize that the independence and core function of constitutional courts form the foundation of every democratic system.
According to sources, the petition may evolve into a significant case relating to constitutional interpretation and the protection of judicial jurisdiction.
