Mingora; The Swat civil society has strongly condemned the 26th Constitutional Amendment, calling for immediate action to safeguard judicial independence. The Awakening organization hosted a one-day event, attended by students, civil society members, lawyers, and others. Advocate Arshad Iqbal expressed concerns that the amendment introduces a performance evaluation process for judges that can be exploited for political gain. This could negatively impact judges’ tenure and impartiality. Arshad Iqbal further emphasized that the amendment limits the Chief Justice’s term to three years, increasing the likelihood of political appointments within the judiciary and disrupting its leadership continuity. Irfan Hussain Babak, Executive Director stressed that judicial independence from political interference is crucial for impartial justice delivery. The amendment opens doors to political influence, unacceptable in any democratic society. Irfan warmed that this amendment poses severe threats to Pakistan’s judicial independence. The amendment, approved by Parliament on October 21, 2024, contains clauses that undermine the judiciary’s fundamental principles, power distribution, and constitutional compliance.
