SC reserves judgment on petitions challenging 18th and 21st amendments

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgment on petitions challenging the 18th and 21st amendments.

The petitions were heard by a 17-member full bench of the apex court and judgment was reserved after Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt concluded his arguments.

In his arguments of Friday, Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt stated that Parliament had the authority to bring constitutional amendments and courts could not interfere in this process. He called on the apex court to dismiss petitions against the 18th and 21st amendments arguing that they were not admissible for hearing.

The arguments of the attorney general were also accepted by the advocate generals during proceedings.

Several petitions challenging the 18th amendment which was passed during the last tenure of the PPP government were filed in the apex court. The 18th amendment introduced a new procedure for the appointment of superior court judges.

Petitions were also filed against the 21st amendment under which military courts were set up to try hardened militants.