ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (APP): The Supreme Court directed Attorney General (AG) for Pakistan Molvi Anwar-ul-Haq on Thursday to secure record of all the suggestions submitted with the Constitutional Reforms Committee over 18th Amendment and place it before the court.A 17-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued the directive while hearing arguments of Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, a petitioner who challenged certain provisions of the 18th Amendment.
The Chief Justice asked the AG whether open suggestions were invited on the issue or any debate made in public or media. If so he should bring the record of such material.
“In such matters people are the master, and the amendments should reflect their will,” he added.
Justice Jawwad S. Khawja remarked that the process spanned over two months and about 102 articles were amended. There should be some reasons and consensus for doing so. “When the Constitution is changed, it is not a child’s play. It’s a serious business,” he added.
He also told the CJ that the committee had floated an advertizement over this issue and in response, according to the committee, received 980 suggestions.
