LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed as withdrawn a petition challenging the 27th Amendment.

Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal took up the petition filed by a citizen when Additional Attorney General Mirza Nasar Ahmad stated that the impugned amendment was still undergoing some changes. He said the petition was filed premature.

Asked by the court, a counsel for the petitioner said he would file the petition again after the completion of amendment process. He sought permission to withdraw the petition, which the judge granted and dismissed the plea as withdrawn.

A citizen, Hassan Latif, filed the petition, pleading that radical 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 said the Supreme Court’s original, appellate, and advisory jurisdictions were being transferred to the FCC. He 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.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025