Pakistan’s Proposed Constitutional Court Amendments Unveiled
The coalition government led by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) has revealed proposed changes to the constitution regarding the formation of a new Constitutional Court. This court will consist of seven members, including the Chief Justice, and will have the authority to make legally binding decisions.
Composition and Appointment
The Chief Justice will be appointed by a retired senior judge, and the court will include the Attorney General, the Law Minister, and a representative from the Pakistan Bar Council. Both the opposition and the ruling party will select two representatives from each of the two houses, and provincial courts will have a similar structure.
Eligibility and Approval
Judges must be at least 40 years old, have three years of court experience, and ten years of legal practice. The President will have the final say in the removal of judges through the Federal Constitutional Council.
Appeals and Supreme Court
The Federal Court can hear appeals against provincial court decisions, but the Federal Constitutional Court’s decisions are final. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will be appointed by an eight-member parliamentary committee from the three most senior judges.
Political Support
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui mentioned that two major parties have submitted draft proposals for these amendments, paving the way for potential agreements with other parties. He emphasized that these changes aim to benefit the country as a whole.
Doubts Revealed
Pakistan Muslim League (N) -: The Pakistan Muslim League (N), often abbreviated as PML-N, is a political party in Pakistan. It is one of the major parties in the country and has been in power several times. The ‘N’ stands for Nawaz, referring to Nawaz Sharif, a prominent leader of the party.
Constitutional Court -: A Constitutional Court is a special type of court that deals with issues related to the constitution of a country. It ensures that laws and government actions comply with the constitution. In this context, Pakistan is proposing to create such a court to handle constitutional matters.
Chief Justice -: The Chief Justice is the head judge of a court. In the context of the proposed Constitutional Court in Pakistan, the Chief Justice would be one of the seven members and would have significant influence over the court’s decisions.
Binding decision-making power -: Binding decision-making power means that the decisions made by the court must be followed by everyone, including the government. It gives the court authority to make final judgments on constitutional issues.
Federal Court -: The Federal Court is a higher court in a country that deals with important legal matters. In Pakistan, it can hear appeals, which means it reviews decisions made by lower courts to ensure they are correct.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui -: Senator Irfan Siddiqui is a member of the Senate in Pakistan, which is part of the country’s parliament. He is involved in discussing and promoting the proposed constitutional amendments.
