SC hearing petitions against 18th amendment

Pakistan

SC hearing petitions against 18th amendment

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13 July,2010 01:53 pm

The Supreme Court was hearing petitions challenging the 18th Amendment on Tuesday, Dunya News reported. A 17-judge full court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was hearing the petitions challenging certain clauses in the amendment. During the hearing, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada argued that the petitioner who moved the court endorsing the 18th amendment could not be made party in the case, and added that he would not argue if the strangers were made party. During the hearing, petitioner Wahan Al-Khairi argued that it was the judiciary's responsibility to safeguard the constitution. He contended that there are many clauses in the 18th amendment which are against the Islamic laws, while the amendments regarding the set up election tribunal would not ensure transparency in polls. On this, Justice Javed Iqbal questioned whether the elections held earlier were transparent. Wahab-Al-Khairi argued that scrapping of intra-party elections is against the democratic principles, and added that President Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto would remain the party chief after this amendment.