Fake assembly made ‘black amendment’ to Constitution: Salman Raja

LAHORE: Terming the 26th Amendment a ‘Black Amendment’, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Barrister Salman Akram Raja said on Monday that an assembly with a fake mandate did the legislation.

Flanked by Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bachar, Raja said if not allowed to speak in courts, the PTI would register its protest on roads. He said the Charter of Democracy was signed between two parties, adding that it was not right in his view. He said that being a lawyer himself, he was well aware of the fact that what kind of verdicts of some cases would be made.

“Where should we go if justice is not dispensed to us through courts,” asked Raja. He added the only way left for the PTI now was resistance. Salman Raja said that the assault on Sunday night had strangled the freedom of judiciary that it had attained through a decade long struggle. He said that the tyrants had been allowed to make a law of their choice.

He said that the spirit of the Constitution had been attacked, adding the only way for the appointment of judges was on the basis of seniority. He also stated that out of 13 members of the parliamentary committee, majority would belong to the PMLN.

To a question, Raja stated that the absence of the PTI MNAs raise doubts about their loyalty and they would be asked for it by the party. Salman Raja said that the intension behind the amendment was not right, adding that the PTI had a principled stance over it, that was the reason it did not become part of the voting process.