Supreme Court Registry Refuses to Receive Petition Challenging 27th Constitutional Amendment

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Registrar’s Office has refused to receive a petition challenging the 27th Constitutional Amendment, maintaining that petitions of this nature can be filed before the Federal Constitutional Court.

The 27th Amendment had been challenged by former Justice Shabar Raza Rizvi. The petition argued that the Constitution of Pakistan was framed by the Constituent Assembly, which had declared the Supreme Court as the highest court under the 1973 Constitution, while the present parliament was not a Constituent Assembly.

The petition maintained that the basic features of the Constitution could not be altered. It further argued that no individual could be granted lifetime immunity in an Islamic state and that the independence of the judiciary was directly linked to the appointment of judges.

According to the petitioner, the 27th Constitutional Amendment had effectively undermined the Constitution.

The petition requested the Supreme Court to declare the 27th Constitutional Amendment null and void and also strike down the lifetime immunity granted under Article 248.

The Supreme Court had previously also refused to receive another petition challenging the 27th Constitutional Amendment.