Punjab PA speaker expresses concerns about ‘judicial activism’

LAHORE: PA Speaker Muhammad Ahmad Khan has expressed concerns about judicial activism in recent times, saying that it has influenced various aspects of parliamentary affairs.

“How is it possible that the judges appoint themselves and also remove themselves?” he said while addressing a press conference here on Monday. “This perception is not correct, and it is wrong to assume that politicians lack the ability to make sound decisions” he said, adding that he did not agree with the Punjab governor’s stance on constitutional amendments and believed that this authority should solely belong to the parliament. Anyone failing to fulfill his constitutional duties is not a true representative of people. He appealed to both the government and the opposition to step out of their political bubbles, reminding them of their oath to uphold and protect the Constitution.

He said: “The rights of the parliament must not be usurped. My concern is solely for the rights of the parliament as enshrined in the Constitution, which is why I have written to the election commission.” He stressed that the Supreme Court of Pakistan should make decisions in accordance with the Constitution which clearly outlined the responsibilities of each institution. He commended Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her inspiring speech after taking the oath, during which she laid out a clear roadmap. Furthermore, he reiterated the need for the parliament to exercise the rights given to it by the Constitution. He called upon both government and opposition members including Maulana Fazlur Rehman to honour their oath of protecting the Constitution and avoid supporting any unconstitutional actions.

He said no one could take away the parliament’s supremacy right. He criticized those elected officials who shy away from their constitutional responsibilities due to personal interests, stating that such individuals cannot be considered true representatives of people. “Strengthen the Constitution and law. Otherwise, we will lose our authority.” He highlighted that constitutional and legal crises created obstacles for delivering public services.