- State Minister for Interior says 26th and 27th Amendments brought stability to country
- Asserts Parliament has full authority to introduce amendments in consultation with other parties
- Terms recent resignations of senior judges ‘political,’ saying SC judges’ resignations followed criticism of 27th Amend as an ‘assault’ on Constitution
FAISALABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Sunday claimed the ruling coalition remains open to introducing another constitutional amendment if needed to “maintain stability” in the country, insisting that past amendments have strengthened parliamentary authority and national governance.
Speaking at a media briefing in Faisalabad, he asserted that both the 26th and 27th Amendments had brought stability and that any future amendments would be pursued in consultation with other parties.
“The parliament will bring amendments whenever it wants, and the parliament should do them. The parliament should be seen as a parliament,” Chaudhry emphasized. His remarks come just three days after the 27th Amendment was signed into law following passage in the National Assembly and the Senate, despite strong opposition from rival parties.
Addressing the recent resignations of superior court judges, the state minister termed them “political.” He referred to the November 13 resignations of Supreme Court senior puisne judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, who had criticised the 27th Amendment as an “assault” on the Constitution and a weakening of the judiciary. Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court resigned a day later, while departures from the Islamabad High Court remain possible.
Chaudhry stressed that constitutional amendments are the prerogative of parliament. “Judges take oath under the Constitution; they are not a political party that they will resign if the Constitution is amended,” he said, adding, “The Constitution will not be as per their wishes but of the parliament and the people of Pakistan.” He further pointed out that judges’ salaries and decisions are determined by parliament, asserting that some resigning judges had been “biased” and delivered “political” judgments.
The minister also criticised the alleged excessive use of suo-motu powers by the Supreme Court to influence political outcomes—a power that has now been curtailed under the 27th Amendment. Quoting former CJP Umar Ata Bandial’s 2023 remark, he said, “There have been many extensions of ‘good to see you,’ but the environment is not the same anymore.”
On upcoming by-elections in Faisalabad, Chaudhry said the PTI was boycotting contests where it faced considerable opposition. Polls for two National Assembly seats (NA-96, NA-104) and three provincial assembly seats (PP-98, PP-115, PP-116) are scheduled for November 23. He suggested the PML-N is likely to win all five seats, citing PTI’s boycott, the recent ban on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), and PPP’s decision not to field candidates.
