Quetta:Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated his call for immediate and impartial justice through judicial reforms and the establishment of constitutional courts across the country. Speaking at the Peoples Lawyers Forum in Quetta, he emphasized that the current judicial system fails to provide justice to victims of terrorism, with judges often unable to deliver verdicts in over 50% of cases.
Bilawal presented a draft proposal for constitutional amendments, advocating for the creation of constitutional courts at the provincial level. He stated that the PPP’s position on constitutional matters has been consistent for three generations, asserting that the party will not be intimidated by threats associated with the legal profession.
He referred to the Charter of Democracy, asserting that former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had committed to introducing judicial reforms back in 2006 to provide quick justice to the public. Despite several successful reforms in the past, including the 18th Amendment and the National Finance Commission Award, he lamented that judicial reform has not progressed.
Bilawal highlighted the need for a consensus-based constitutional draft, acknowledging that while the PPP does not currently hold a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, they will strive to present a unified proposal in line with their manifesto and previous commitments made by Benazir Bhutto.
He underscored the importance of reforming the judicial appointment process, proposing that recommendations for judicial appointments be made by the judiciary but finalized by a parliamentary committee that includes equal representation from both government and opposition.
Bilawal concluded by stressing the urgency of establishing constitutional courts to expedite justice for citizens at all levels, asserting that the current judicial system is not democratic and requires significant reform. He encouraged lawyers to play a leading role in this initiative, aiming to ensure that judicial processes align more closely with democratic principles and public accountability.
