PTI
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has strongly condemned the recent bills passed by the National Assembly and Senate, accusing the government of reducing parliament to a mere “rubber-stamp.”
Speaking to journalists outside Parliament House on Monday, Khan criticized the government for silencing the opposition and bulldozing important legislation without proper debate, asserting that this kind of governance is leading the country towards a dangerous form of monarchy.
“Pakistan’s parliament is being made a rubber-stamp. The voice of the opposition in the House is being silenced. This monarchy cannot be the fate of the Pakistani nation,” he declared.
His remarks came after the lower house passed six significant bills, including “The Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” through a majority vote.
Other bills passed included the “Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” the “Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” and amendments to the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy Acts.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan specifically criticized the government for its attempt to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 17 to 34, claiming the move was designed to appoint a Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) of the government’s choosing.
“A state has three pillars. If you weaken one, you weaken the entire state,” he warned, arguing that such actions undermine the independence of the judiciary and, by extension, the rights of the people.
Khan also voiced his concerns over the government’s hasty approach to legislation, noting that many lawmakers may not have even been fully aware of the contents of the bills they were approving.
He emphasized that the people of Pakistan reject any form of legislation that paves the way for authoritarianism and monarchy.
In a separate critique, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed his alarm over the government’s intention to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, granting defense institutions powers that exceed their professional responsibilities.
Rehman warned that this would allow defense forces to detain individuals for up to 90 days on mere suspicion, a move he likened to “civil martial law” and described as a “black stain on the face of democracy.”
Rehman further criticized the Shehbaz Sharif-led government for transferring excessive authority to defense institutions after weakening the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
He argued that the balance of power was being tilted dangerously, and that this legislative move erodes democratic principles.
Addressing concerns about the country’s direction, Rehman reiterated the need for a system that prioritizes civilian governance. He called for an end to the “cruel behavior” directed toward Bushra Bibi and her political associates, urging the government to uphold democratic values.
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