Islamabad, Dec 7 (NationPress) A gathering of legal professionals in Pakistan has expressed strong disapproval of the 26th and 27th ‘Constitutional Amendments’, urging a renewed dedication to constitutional supremacy and the independence of the judiciary, as reported by local media on Sunday.

A resolution with various demands and condemnations was adopted during the event organized by the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and the Lahore Bar Association (LBA).

The resolution began by rejecting the amendments, asserting that these alterations harmed the constitution and undermined the judiciary in Pakistan, according to the Pakistani daily Dawn. It also denounced the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court, labeling it as an “unconstitutional” court and a “murder” of judicial integrity.

The resolution called for the return of missing persons and the release of all political figures, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid, Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch, among others, who, the lawyers argue, have been detained on false charges. It stated that the detention of these leaders infringes fundamental rights such as the right to life, liberty, equality, fair trial, and due process.

On November 28, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, voiced significant concerns regarding Pakistan’s new constitutional amendments, cautioning that they contradict the separation of powers essential for the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the nation.

In his statement, Turk indicated that the recent constitutional amendment, similar to the 26th Amendment, had been enacted without comprehensive consultation with the legal community and the Pakistani populace.

Under the amendments approved on November 13, a new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has been endowed with jurisdiction over constitutional matters, superseding the previous authority of the Supreme Court, which will now only handle civil and criminal cases.

“These modifications, taken collectively, threaten to subject the judiciary to political influence and executive control. Neither the executive nor the legislative should have the power to control or guide the judiciary, and the judiciary must be shielded from political pressures in its decision-making,” Turk emphasized.

“A fundamental indicator of judicial independence is a tribunal’s protection from political interference by the Government. If judges lack independence, they often struggle to enforce the law impartially and to uphold human rights against political coercion,” he added.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari ratified the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill on November 13, following its passage in both houses of Parliament. With this endorsement, the bill is now integrated into Pakistan's Constitution. The amendment offers lifelong immunity to the President, the Field Marshal, the Marshal of the Air Force, and the Admiral of the Fleet from criminal charges and arrest, as stated in the announcement.

Turk remarked: “Extensive immunity provisions like these erode accountability, which is a cornerstone of the human rights framework and democratic control over the armed forces under the rule of law.”

“I am concerned that these amendments pose serious threats to the principles of democracy and the rule of law that the Pakistani people cherish,” he added.