Imran Khan, the jailed founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has strongly criticised the government’s attempts to introduce a series of constitutional amendments, which he claims are intended to keep him incarcerated. Speaking from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail during an informal discussion with journalists, Khan accused the ruling coalition of trying to undermine the judiciary and alter the Constitution to ensure his continued imprisonment.
Khan expressed his concerns over the proposed amendments, arguing that they could have severe consequences for the country’s future. He stated that the current rulers are pushing for the creation of a separate constitutional court due to their fear of the Supreme Court, which has been a central figure in political disputes.
The former prime minister also suggested that the government is attempting to conceal election fraud related to the February 8 general elections, which PTI has consistently labelled as rigged. Khan maintained that his party’s electoral success was manipulated through the improper use of Form-47 and that the government fears exposure of election-related issues.
In response to the constitutional package, Khan outlined his party’s future strategy, promising that PTI would not remain silent and would strongly oppose the government’s moves.
The ruling coalition, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has been striving to pass a constitutional amendment package that includes changes to the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and the retirement age of judges. However, the government has faced difficulty in securing the two-thirds majority required to pass such an amendment.
Efforts to gain support from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have reportedly fallen short, leading to the government’s decision to indefinitely postpone the tabling of the amendment bill. Despite Rehman’s acknowledgment that the proposed amendments are justified, he has requested more time to review the draft.
The government currently lacks the necessary votes in both the National Assembly and Senate to move the constitutional package forward, with 13 votes short in the National Assembly and nine votes short in the Senate.