PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed his fear that the tabling of the constitutional amendment in Parliament would be difficult after October 25.

“There will be challenges to constitutional amendment after October 25,” the scion of the Bhutto dynasty told a Supreme Court Press Association delegation at the Zardari Hosue on Tuesday. “The reserved seats case decision suggests this direction. If amendments occur before October 25, there will not be any complications.”

He did not present any context for his statement, but the aforementioned date is significant for the legal fraternity as incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa who will retire on this date. Senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will precede him as next CJP.

Last month, CJP Isa clarified that he had refused a proposed extension in his tenure under age limit reforms.

Described as the “26th Constitutional Amendment”, the intended legislation was set to propose a fixed three-year tenure for the chief justice of Pakistan.

Although the legislation was initially scheduled to be introduced in the National Assembly and Senate last month, the government was unable to present it over the weekend despite intensive efforts to secure the necessary support.

The details of the proposed amendments, which had largely been kept under wraps, were discussed during a special parliamentary committee meeting on September 15. It was aimed at bringing the opposition on board, much to the dismay of both opposition members and government allies.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the proposed constitutional amendments on September 18 and laid out his party’s stance on the issue. But he has supported the demand for constitutional courts without any person-specific legislation.

More to follow…