PBC terms proposed 26th Amendment as ‘blatant violation of democratic values’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Thursday expressed serious concerns regarding the secrecy surrounding the proposed constitutional amendments by the federal government, describing it as a “blatant violation of democratic values.”

In an urgent meeting chaired by Vice-Chairman Farooq H. Naek, the PBC’s Executive Committee discussed these amendments. The council expressed dissatisfaction with the way the parliamentary session was convened to pass the amendments, highlighting the frequent and abrupt adjournments of the session as concerning.

“This conduct undermines parliamentary norms, the rule of law, and democratic principles, damaging the reputation of both parliament and its members, who are the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan,” the PBC said in a press release following the meeting.

The council further stated that the Executive Committee had reviewed the proposed 26th constitutional amendments clause by clause and suggested certain changes. It deferred the matter for further discussion in its next meeting scheduled for September 25, given the importance of these amendments and the need for detailed consideration.

Earlier reports indicated that the Pakistan government had decided to engage with bar associations to gain their trust regarding the proposed amendments, as these legal bodies had opposed the changes.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar is expected to brief the bar associations to build consensus on the issue, according to sources familiar with the situation.

On September 16, former Supreme Court Bar President Hamid Khan announced the launch of a “lawyers’ movement” on September 19 in opposition to the proposed amendments.