Lawyers protest strongly demanding review of constitutional amendment in Pakistan

News Topical, Digital Desk : Justice Amiruddin Khan was on Friday sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the newly constituted Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) in Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath to him at a ceremony held at the President House.

The President appointed him on Thursday night on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. This new court was established under the 27th Amendment to the Constitution to oversee and hear constitutional matters. The government's move has been strongly opposed in the Supreme Court, and two of its senior judges have resigned.

Zardari announces names of 6 judges

There are growing demands in the country for a review of the new law enacted by the constitutional amendment. The Constitutional Court will have seven judges, including the Chief Justice. President Zardari on Friday announced the names of six judges appointed to the newly formed court. Justices Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Amir Farooq, and Ali Baqar Najafi have been transferred from the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court.

The three other judges appointed are Justices KK Agha, Rozi Khan Barech, and Arshad Hussain Shah. Retired Arshad Hussain Shah was appointed after Supreme Court Justice Musarrat Hilali declined to serve on the newly constituted court.

Pakistani lawyers and political parties have declared November 13, the day the 27th Constitutional Amendment came into effect, a black day. They said the resignation of two senior Supreme Court judges, Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, is regrettable. They described the government's move as a conspiracy to weaken the judiciary and a disgrace.

Lawyers warned

Lawyers and politicians have called on Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to convene a full bench to review the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which curtails the Supreme Court's powers and expands those of the military. Lawyers' associations across the country have already warned of protests against the new law.

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