Supreme Court refuses to accept petition against 27th Amendment

The registrar’s office has taken the position that petitions of this nature can be filed in the Federal Constitutional Court.

The 27th Amendment was challenged by retired Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi. The petition stated that the Constitution of Pakistan was framed by the legislative assembly, and that the assembly had declared the Supreme Court the highest court in the 1973 Constitution. It added that the present assembly is in no way a constituent assembly.

The petition said the basic features of the Constitution cannot be changed and that no one can be granted lifelong immunity in an Islamic state. It added that the independence of the judiciary is directly linked to the appointment of judges. It said the 27th Amendment had in fact trampled on the Constitution.

The petition asked the Supreme Court to declare the 27th Constitutional Amendment null and void. It also asked the court to strike down the lifelong immunity granted under Article 248.

The Supreme Court has earlier also refused to accept a petition against the 27th Amendment.