The proposed draft for constitutional amendments by JUI-F was made public on Saturday, presenting 24 amendments to the Constitution. The draft was submitted to the special parliamentary committee for consideration.
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.
According to the draft, the JUI-F has proposed amendments to articles 38 (promotion of social and economic well-being of the people), 175-A (appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court, High Courts and the Federal Shariat Court), 243 (command of armed forces), 230 (functions of Islamic Council), and 203 (high court to superintend subordinate courts) of the Constitution.
Notably, the draft includes a suggestion to eliminate all forms of interest by January 1, 2028. It also mandates that any legislation introduced in the four provinces and both houses of Parliament must receive approval from the Islamic Ideological Council.
The religio-political party has proposed the introduction of an Islamic monetary policy system in the country, alongside a complete repeal of the 19th Constitutional Amendment and a full restoration of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
According to the draft, a constitutional bench would have the authority to adjudicate constitutional disputes and interpretations. It also suggests the formation of constitutional benches within the Supreme Court and high courts.
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The proposal includes the establishment of a bench in the Supreme Court comprising the chief justice and five senior judges while in the high courts, a constitutional bench would consist of the chief justice and three senior judges.
Furthermore, the draft states that appeals against the decisions of provincial constitutional benches would be heard by the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court.
