KARACHI, July 28: Speakers at a seminar on Sunday said frequent interference in working of the judiciary by successive governments has been a major hindrance in establishing credentials of the judiciary.

The seminar, entitled: “Proposed Constitutional Amendments and Federation of Pakistan”, was organized by Idara Maraf-i- Islami with Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Prof Ghafoor Ahmed in the chair.

Former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, linked the provision of basic human rights and good governance with the independence of the judiciary and acknowledged that justice system has failed to play its positive role in crucial hours of the country for the same reason.

He referred to a number of decisions of the judiciary, which, according to him, were in “contravention of the people’s aspirations”.

He criticized frequent army interference in the functioning of successive democratic governments and added that constitution of Pakistan has given full protection to parliamentary form of government.

He said the proposed cons-titutional package would have serious impacts on collective life of the nation in the long run.

Justice Siddiqui asserted that the package would establish dictatorship of one individual and it would change the entire complexion of the 1973 Constitution. The right to amend the constitution rests with elected parliament only, he remarked.

Central leader of Pakistan People’s Party, Prof N.D Khan, rejected the proposed amendments, saying that when the apex court itself was not vested with the relevant powers, how an individual can pursue whimsical line of action.

He apprehended that if the amendments were implemented, the parliamentary form of system would be turned into a presidential one.

He alleged that the idea of the proposed National Security Council was aimed at establishing permanent role of the army in working of the future governments.

Prof Ghafoor Ahmed suggested that the government should acknowledge the ground realities and leave the matter to an elected parliament.

He emphasized the need for inducting an independent election commission to ensure free and fair general elections as, he added, the present election commission lacked competency in this regard.

He demanded immediate restoration of political activities in the country, to enable political parties to approach the masses to apprise them of their future programme.

Prof Ghafoor recalled the circumstances under which the 1973 Constitution was framed and expressed his displeasure, saying that the unanimously-adopted constitution was being changed by one person.

He asked the rulers to learn a lesson from the former army rulers and avoid making similar mistakes.

He termed the constitutional package “illegal” and maintained that the right to amend the laws rested with an elected parliament.

Ghulam Qadir Jatoi advocate said the lawyers’ community has played an important role against the government anti-democratic acts.—APP