The special parliamentary committee on the 26th constitutional amendment reached a consensus on forming a constitutional bench during a meeting led by Syed Khursheed Shah. The government’s draft, presented to the committee, does not include the creation of a constitutional court but instead suggests forming a constitutional bench, a proposal that has not faced objections from any party, including PTI.
The government has shifted away from the idea of establishing a constitutional court, entrusting the judicial commission with appointments to the constitutional bench. The draft also calls for reconstituting the judicial commission and proposes that one of the three senior judges be appointed as Chief Justice, with the parliamentary committee recommending the names.
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The draft also includes structural changes to the parliamentary committee, which will send its recommendations to the prime minister for approval. Once approved by the president, the appointments will be formalized. The judicial commission is proposed to consist of six judges, along with the Law Minister, Attorney General, a retired Supreme Court judge, a few lawyers, an MNA, and a senator.
Sources indicate PTI has concerns about allowing dual citizens to resign after 90 days, while JUI-F stresses that the Chief Justice should be appointed strictly by seniority before considering the three-judge proposal. The committee is set to reconvene tomorrow at 12:30 PM.
