Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has accused the government of pursuing constitutional amendments to extend the terms of three top officials. These include Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, and the Chief Election Commissioner.
Speaking to the media at Adiala Jail, Imran Khan claimed that the government is amending the constitution to protect fraudulent election results and keep these officials in power. “They are amending the constitution to extend the terms of three umpires,” he said.
He warned that if Chief Justice Isa is removed, investigations into the May 9 protests and alleged rigged elections would begin. Imran criticized the delay in addressing the May 9 events, accusing the government of attempting to dismantle his party.
Imran stated that he had been targeted with over 140 legal cases before May 9, and the attempts to remove him intensified after the date. He expressed concern that if a new chief justice takes office, the truth about May 9 will be revealed. He also accused the government of undermining Pakistan’s judicial and electoral systems by delaying tribunal decisions on the February 8 election.
Bilawal Bhutto Predicts Next Chief Justice
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari believes that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will succeed Qazi Faez Isa as the next Chief Justice of Pakistan. In a televised interview, Bilawal expressed confidence that Justice Mansoor will take office on October 26, after Justice Isa retires.
His remarks came after weeks of political uncertainty as the ruling coalition delayed plans to introduce a controversial constitutional amendment package in parliament. The proposed amendments reportedly included provisions to extend the retirement age of judges, which could have impacted Justice Isa’s tenure. However, the government’s plan was stalled due to the lack of support from a key ally, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
Bilawal emphasized the need for comprehensive judicial reforms. He called for the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission under the Charter of Democracy. “We waited almost 50 years for justice in Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s murder case,” he said, urging for urgent changes in the judicial system.
Bilawal also pointed out that the Supreme Court spends 90% of its time handling political cases, which only make up 15% of its workload. He argued that this imbalance harms ordinary citizens seeking justice and reinforces the need for reforms in the judiciary and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Government Faces Deadlock on Amendments
Bilawal expressed disappointment with Imran Khan’s recent statements, saying they derailed efforts to engage the PTI on constitutional amendments. He stated that it was difficult for the government to involve PTI in these discussions.
Despite the deadlock, Bilawal confirmed that the PPP would continue working on its proposal for a constitutional court, which will be shared with Maulana Fazl. He acknowledged ongoing efforts to draft a joint proposal with JUI-F, which insists on involving opposition parties, including PTI, in the talks.
As Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement approaches, the government faces pressure to resolve the political deadlock and push forward its legislative agenda. However, Bilawal admitted that the coalition lacks the numbers in parliament to pass the constitutional amendments.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s expected appointment as the next Chief Justice comes at a crucial time for Pakistan’s judiciary. The debate over judicial independence and political interference continues to dominate the national conversation.
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