LAHORE: Another petition challenging the 27th Amendment was filed in the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, a day after a similar plea was submitted to the Supreme Court.

The petitioner, Hassan Latif, contended through his counsel that changes were being introduced through the 27th Amendment that contradicted the preamble of the Constitution and attempted to curtail the powers of the Supreme Court.

He argued that by reducing judicial authority, the amendment endangered judicial independence and undermined the constitutional framework, as it was being passed without consultation with the provinces.

He said the amendment sought to restructure the apex judiciary of Pakistan by creating a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

He added that the Supreme Court’s original, appellate, and advisory jurisdictions were being transferring to the FCC.

He further contended that the proposed amendment had been passed by the Senate, tabled in the National Assembly and was yet to be assented by the president.

Therefore, the petitioner asked the court to annul the 27th Amendment and declare the transfer of constitutional cases to another court as void.

On Tuesday, former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Jawwad S. Khawaja challenged the 27th Amendment, seeking a directive that the SC retain exclusive jurisdiction to determine the lawfulness and constitutionality of the amendment.

Filed through Advocate Khwaja Ahmad Hosain, the petitioner urged the apex court to strike down or suspend any provisions in any Act of Parliament, including the 27th Amendment, that reduce or abolish the constitutional jurisdiction of the SC, or that purport to vest such jurisdiction in any other court or body.

The petition also asked the apex court to set aside the provisions of the 27th Amendment related to the transfer of high court judges and requested that the matter be treated as one of “urgency” until a final decision on the plea was reached.

The former CJP explained that he had filed the petition to save the SC that he claimed was on the verge of being abolished as a constitutional court.

He argued that he had “no personal interest” in this case, adding the relief sought was for the benefit of all citizens of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2025