Proposed constitutional amendments in Pakistan have triggered a political standoff between the government and the opposition. The amendments seek to increase the power of the political executive over the judiciary and include the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court alongside the Supreme Court. However, the opposition, led by the PTI party, has rejected the proposed changes as unconstitutional.
The government needs a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament to pass the amendments, but currently falls short of the required votes. The PTI alleges that the amendments are aimed at weakening the judiciary’s independence and targeting their party leader, Imran Khan. Khan has been in detention since August last year on various charges.
Experts warn that the proposed amendments could shift the balance of power between the executive and the judiciary and could potentially weaken the Supreme Court. The timing of the proposals, with the impending retirement of the chief justice, has raised concerns about the government’s intentions.
The amendments would also reportedly grant the military significant exemptions from judicial oversight in matters of national security. This has led to fears that the amendments could further entrench the military’s influence on civilian governments. The opposition, legal experts, and analysts have all expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the proposed changes and the lack of transparency in the process.
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