The Sindh High Court (SHC) has dismissed a petition that challenged the proposed 26th constitutional amendment. Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui led the hearing, which a group of lawyers filed.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Siddiqui clarified that the court could not intervene before the amendment became law. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the draft of the amendment had already been presented in the assembly.
However, Justice Siddiqui emphasized that the elected representatives, who speak for 240 million citizens, can discuss and pass amendments. He questioned the lawyer on whether they had reviewed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Practice and Procedure Act.
When the lawyer confirmed, the judge expressed surprise that a petition was filed despite this. He questioned its validity and reminded the lawyer that the court cannot contradict the Supreme Court’s decisions.
The lawyer suggested that the draft amendment could threaten public rights and the judiciary, proposing that it be debated among bar councils and legal organizations. However, Chief Justice Siddiqui asked under what law this would be required and criticized the tendency of filing petitions with insufficient grounds.
Ultimately, the court rejected the petition, stating it was premature to challenge the proposed 26th constitutional amendment.
