A three-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa would hear a petition that challenges the government’s proposed constitutional amendments on October 17.

The bench also includes Justices Naeem Afghan and Shahid Bilal. The Registrar’s Office has issued a notice to Advocate Abid Zebari regarding the proceedings.

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

Legal experts are concerned that such proposed changes could significantly undermine the independence of the judiciary by limiting the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to only civil and criminal appeals or petitions.

Meanwhile, the JUI-F has declined to support the ruling coalition’s constitutional amendment as the parliamentary committee meeting would meet again on Monday to reach a consensus on the intended legislation.