Legislation could be done through referendum: Ramday

The Supreme Court resumed the hearing of the petitions challenging certain clauses of the 18th amendment with a main focus on the judicial appointments on Wednesday. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heading a 17-member bench, is hearing the identical pleas. During the court proceedings, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday remarked that legislation could also be done through referendum, and asked whether the process meant for presidential elections of the generals only. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry observed that the verdict by the 17-member bench would be as such that would discourage everyone trying to violate human rights in future. Hamid Khan, advocate Supreme Court Bar Association, argued in the court that the parliament is entitled to legislate, however, he added that if the said institutions is given more powers it could get out of control. He added that the parliament is not authorized to amend the basic features of the Constitution.