SC adjourns 18th Amendment petitions hearing

Pakistan

SC adjourns 18th Amendment petitions hearing

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21 July,2010 02:07 pm

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of petitions challenging the 18th Amendment till July 26. A 17-judge full court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry heard the petitions challenging certain clauses in the amendment. The Chief Justice said that the lawyer who challenged the name of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa didnt tell that if the name of the province conflicts any clasue of the Constituion. While Advocate Iftikhar Gilani said the name of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa (KP) is not conflicted with basic structure of the Constitution. Advocate Gilani said that apex court has the authority to examine the Constitution and to disallow amendments are against its essence. Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja asked about the point of view of KP government about change in basic structure. On this, Iftikhar Gilani said that the provincial government has not yet given its stance in this regard. Justice Saqib Nisar asked how the mandate from Pakistani people can be taken for amendments clashed with the basic structure of the Constitution. Gilani said that refrendum can be held for this purpose. The hearing of petitions challenging the 18th Amendment has been adjourned till July 26.