Imran Khan, the jailed founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has expressed his party’s full support for Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah to become the next Chief Justice of Pakistan. Speaking informally to journalists from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Wednesday, Khan urged for the swift announcement of the next chief justice’s appointment, emphasizing PTI’s backing of Justice Shah.
Khan, who was ousted from office through a parliamentary vote in April 2022, criticized the government, stating that its aim is to undermine the judiciary by limiting the authority of the Supreme Court’s chief justice. He accused the ruling coalition of trying to install judges who would facilitate election fraud in the upcoming 2024 elections, asserting that the government is determined to suppress PTI at all costs.
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His comments come amid an ongoing controversy surrounding a proposed constitutional package by the ruling coalition. This package reportedly includes provisions to extend the retirement age of judges in the high courts and Supreme Court, with speculation that it may involve extending the tenure of the current Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to retire in October.
While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), claim to have the necessary votes for the constitutional amendments, the process has been delayed. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has so far refused to support the amendments, leaving the government short of the required two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
In the National Assembly, the coalition needs 224 votes but currently holds 211, while in the Senate, 64 votes are needed. Despite JUI-F’s reluctance, PML-N leader and Adviser on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, hinted at the possibility of building a “minimum consensus” among political parties on the judiciary-focused constitutional amendments, which include the establishment of a constitutional court. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has reiterated that these amendments will be introduced regardless of opposition.
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Sanaullah further noted that consultations with political parties are ongoing, with both PPP and JUI-F working on draft amendments, which will be discussed in upcoming sessions following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s return from the United States. He expressed hope that the constitutional package would be presented after achieving a consensus among the parties.