FAISALABAD: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has stated that the 19th Amendment has transferred parliamentary powers to the Supreme Judicial Commission, effectively making it a source of power. He emphasized that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) aims to establish a constitutional court to rectify the flaws of the 19th Amendment and appoint judges who make decisions based on merit and provide justice to the common people. He advocated for interpreting the Constitution rather than drafting a new clause.
During his visit to Faisalabad for the annual awards ceremony at Aziz Fatima Medical College and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, he addressed concerns about the appointment of vice-chancellors, clarifying that there is no dispute with the Chief Minister’s office and that he seeks transparency and merit in the appointment process.
The governor questioned the small number of individuals repeatedly becoming vice-chancellors at various universities. He pointed out that several issues related to the judiciary from the Charter of Democracy were incorporated into the 18th Amendment but were compromised in the 19th Amendment, leading to a shift of power from Parliament to the judicial commission. He remarked that the decisions made by the last three Chief Justices have harmed lawyers, the public, and Pakistan.
Governor Saleem Haider Khan further criticised the performance of judges post-19th Amendment, stating that they were more concerned about their television appearances than serving justice. He recalled how, during the PPP’s tenure, even minor issues led to suo moto actions, and emphasised that the Prime Minister, representing 180 million people, was summoned to court at 8 AM without breakfast.
Earlier, in his speech at the Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College’s annual awards ceremony, the speaker emphasised the importance of combining training with education and urged educational institutions to prioritise character-building for students. He also highlighted the crucial role of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in empowering women, noting their growing presence in remote areas of the province.
