Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, stated that the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment has hindered Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s path to becoming Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP). According to Sanaullah, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had a significant role in passing the amendment, which was led by the Shehbaz Sharif government with support from coalition partners, including the PPP. The amendment modifies the CJP appointment process, introducing a fixed tenure for the role and a special committee for selection.
PTI’s Influence and Allegations of Undermining Credibility
In a recent interview with BBC, Sanaullah criticized PTI’s influence, labeling it a “chaos-bent party” that brings damage to whoever they support. He alleged that PTI legislators claimed to have an “understanding” with Justice Mansoor, expecting him to take action against the government upon assuming office in October. “Comments like these could undermine anyone’s credibility,” warned Sanaullah, emphasizing the potential reputational risks for those involved.
Changes Brought by the 26th Amendment
Prior to the amendment, Justice Mansoor was set to become the next CJP, following Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement, as the senior-most judge in the Supreme Court. However, the new amendment has replaced the seniority-based approach, allowing the selection of the CJP from among the three most senior judges in the Supreme Court. This shift means the seniority rule will no longer guarantee the position.
New CJP Selection Process
The amendment introduces a 12-member special parliamentary committee responsible for nominating the next CJP. The committee requires a two-thirds majority to approve a nominee, whose name is then forwarded to the prime minister for submission to the president for final approval.
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