LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan has called for political stability to take the country forward.

Speaking at a ceremony here on Friday, he said that just as there’s a need for ending the difference between students of public and private sector educational institutions, there’s also a need for ensuring political stability in the country to take it forward on the road to progress.

Referring to the 27th Amendment that authorised the parliament to appoint judges withdrawing the powers from the judiciary, he said the unrest that had been created in the country (on this count) also needed to end.

“The constitution was interpreted in such a way that the judge will appoint the judge. The amendments (to the Constitution to change the judge’s appointment process) that the parliament tried to make were blocked by the judiciary,” he said, referring to the 19th Amendment that changed the judges’ appointment process proposed in the 18th Amendment.

The speaker regretted that elected governments were thrown out (with the help of judiciary), and called for making the parliament effective.

“The parliament will have to be empowered. The power of appointment (of judges) should rest with the parliament. This is not an interpretation (of the Constitution) that a judge will appoint another judge.”

Mr Khan lauded the parliament for creating the constitutional court and giving a common man like him the opportunity to go to the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025