ISLAMABAD: The Ba­­lochistan Bar Council (BBC) on Wednesday petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking a declaration that the proposed constitutional amendments cannot be introduced or enacted by parliament in a purported exercise of its power under Article 239 of the Constitution, as it would amount to repealing, altering and abrogating the Constitution.

Moved through former Supreme Court Bar Asso­ciation (SCBA) President Abid Shahid Zuberi, the petition pleaded the proposed constitutional package will repeal, alter and abrogate the salient features of the Consti­tution including the fundamental rights, the independence of judiciary, principles of separation of powers and right to access to justice.

The petition feared that the proposed amendments will change Pakistan from a parliamentary democracy into a state controlled by establishment and ruled by extra-constitutional forces.

Therefore, the apex court shou­­ld restrain the federal government or any other member of the parliament from introducing the proposed constitutional ame­ndments bill in either house of parliament.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024