KARACHI: Awami National Party president Senator Aimal Wali Khan has said his party proposed an amendment to the upcoming constitutional package to rename Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Pakhtunkhwa.

“We have proposed in the upcoming constitutional amendment package to rename KP as ‘Pakhtunkhwa’ to give us our identity,” he said while speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected cabinet members of the National Lawyers Forum (NLF) here at City Courts on Wednesday.

He opposed the idea of any extension in the retirement age of judges of superior judiciary and the direct appointment of practicing lawyers as high court judges.

“Retired judges and ad hoc judges should not be appointed in the superior judiciary,” he said, adding, “The biggest mistake is appointing a high court lawyer directly as a judge.”

He emphasised his party wants establishment of a permanent bench of the Supreme Court in every province so that citizens do not have to travel to the federal capital for justice.

Speaking on the country’s economic condition, Senator Wali remarked, “This year and the next will be very difficult for us.”

He clarified that the ANP had no personal affiliations with any judge of the apex court, stating, “We just want Pakistan’s system to function properly.”

During his speech, Mr Wali addressed issues related to the rule of law, judicial reforms, and the importance of freedom of speech.

Karachi Bar Association President Aamir Nawaz Warraich, General Secretary Ikhtiar Ali Channa, NLF-Sindh president Haroon Shah and others also spoke.

The ANP chief had arrived in the metropolis on Sunday to attend Pakhtoon Culture Day. On Monday, he had attended the ‘Meet the Press’ programme of the Karachi Press Club.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2024