Afrasiab Khattak challenges 26th amendment in Supreme Court

Afrasiab Khattak, former chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and ex-senator, has challenged 26th Constitutional Amendment in Supreme Court of Pakistan, urging the court to convene a full bench for the case.

In his petition, Khattak raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the amendment’s passage, questioning whether lawmakers voted freely or under pressure. He requested the Supreme Court to investigate these claims, either directly or through a judicial commission, as the amendment allegedly compromises judicial independence.

Khattak argued that the amendment was not passed with proper diligence, calling for its dismissal. He emphasized that the proposed annual performance review for judges undermines judicial independence, a core principle of the Constitution.

Earlier, a lawyer from Malakand also challenged the 26th amendment, asking the Supreme Court to declare it ultra vires to the Constitution. Similarly, on Tuesday, lawyer Illahi Bux filed a petition in the Sindh High Court, seeking to strike down parts of the amendment for being “contrary to the principles of judicial independence and the separation of powers.”