SAHIWAL: Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has reiterated the importance of upcoming constitutional reforms, saying their alignment should be with the 1973 Constitution, the 18th Amendment and the ‘Charter of Democracy’ initiated by the leading federal parties.

Speaking in Sahiwal, the governor said that the judiciary’s role is to interpret the constitution, not to dictate amendments or interfere with parliamentary processes.

He said the parliament, representing 230 million Pakistanis, holds the sole authority to enact reforms.

Criticising recent judicial interventions, the governor said the judiciary has overstepped its constitutional bounds, especially since the tenure of retired chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Says they should allign with 18th Amendment and Charter of Democracy

“This imbalance of power must be addressed and judicial reforms are not only necessary but inevitable,” he said.

The governor said Maulana Fazlur Rehman would support the reforms, noting that major political parties had addressed his concerns. He also spoke about transparency issues within the judicial appointment process, alleging that some judges are selected from “particular chambers” which compromises merit.

Turning to political opposition, the governor criticised Imran Khan, calling him “stubborn” and responsible for destabilising Pakistan’s federal structure. He questioned the legality of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s actions against the federal government, particularly the recent confrontation at the Attock Bridge.

Earlier, Governor Haider arrived in Sahiwal, where he was warmly welcomed by NA-141 PPP supporters. He spent the day meeting constituents, addressing farmers and inaugurating an IT Skill Centre for training youth in cybersecurity, AI, and coding.

Party leaders, including Zafar Shah Khagga, Mahar Ghulam Farid Kathiya and others, also addressed the gatherings during the governor’s visit.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2024