Imran Khan
RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the imprisoned founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has expressed unwavering support for Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s appointment as the next Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Speaking informally to journalists from within Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, Khan stated, “The appointment of the next chief justice should be announced soon. We completely back Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.”
Khan’s comments come in the wake of his ousting from power through a parliamentary vote in April 2022. He emphasized the importance of the constitutional court’s role in curtailing the authority of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, alleging that the current government is intent on undermining the judiciary.
“They want their own judges to cover the election fraud in 2024,” Khan claimed, asserting that the government is determined to prevent the PTI from regaining influence.
The backdrop to Khan’s remarks involves a contentious constitutional package being proposed by the ruling coalition, which is reportedly aimed at extending the retirement ages of judges in the high courts and the Supreme Court.
This has led to speculation about a potential extension of the tenure of the outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, who is scheduled to retire in October. Khan has previously called for the early announcement of the next Chief Justice’s appointment.
Despite the ruling coalition, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and backed by allies like the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), initially claiming to have the necessary votes to push through the constitutional amendments, they have postponed introducing the package in parliament.
This delay occurred after the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) withheld its support, leaving the ruling coalition short of the votes needed for a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.
In the National Assembly, the coalition requires 224 votes to pass the proposed amendments, while the Senate requires 64 votes. Reports indicate that the ruling benches currently have 211 members, compared to the opposition’s 101.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been reluctant to support these amendments, which he perceives as an effort to safeguard the coalition government.
Rana Sanaullah, a PML-N leader and adviser on Political and Public Affairs, hinted at the possibility of achieving a “minimum consensus” among political factions concerning the controversial amendments centered on the judiciary.
This includes a proposal to establish a constitutional court, which PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has stated will be introduced regardless of opposition.
Sanaullah noted that discussions with other political parties regarding the judicial package have not stalled. Both the PPP and JUI-F are reportedly working on their draft amendments, which may be discussed in upcoming consultations after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns from the United States.
He expressed optimism that the government would table the constitutional package after developing a consensus among the key political players involved.
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