In a unanimous resolution, the All Pakistan Lawyers Representatives called on the government to publicly disclose the proposed constitutional amendments. The resolution, adopted during a meeting at the Supreme Court Bar Complex, emphasized the need for transparency in the legislative process.
The lawyers' body met with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who addressed their questions in detail. The resolution stated that while Parliament holds the authority to legislate and amend the constitution, any changes must align with the constitution's basic structure. It stressed that the proposed constitutional package would lack validity without engaging the legal community.
Among the contentious amendments under discussion are potential extensions to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa's tenure and adjustments to judges' retirement ages. These proposals have posed significant challenges for the coalition government, which lacks the necessary two-thirds majority to pass constitutional amendments in Parliament.
The lawyers also called for a hearing on the Supreme Court Bar Association's constitutional petition regarding Article 63-A, urging all parties to refrain from actions that jeopardize democracy and the constitution.
The ruling coalition has faced a significant setback in securing support, particularly from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Following unsuccessful negotiations, the government decided to "indefinitely postpone" the tabling of the constitutional amendments.
Opposition parties, including PTI and JUI-F, criticized the government for its lack of transparency, insisting that the original draft of the amendments should be debated in Parliament before any approval.