Afridi slams 26th Amend, backs judges' movement

K-P CM says judiciary 'paralysed'; urges dissenting judges to join drive for independence, rule of law

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, has said that the 26th Constitutional Amendment has effectively "paralyzed the judiciary," and those judges who have written letters regarding interference in judicial affairs should come forward and join the movement for judicial independence, assuring that "we will stand with them."

Addressing members of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, the Chief Minister said that eliminating terrorism in K-P requires collective effort. "This province has produced upright judges like the late Justice Waqar Seth. To restore peace in the country, unity is essential," he remarked. He added that the government was taking steps to improve law and order and was introducing new legislation to ensure citizens' safety. "If any innocent citizen is targeted, strict action will be taken against those responsible," he said.

Afridi clarified that his visit to the Bar was not related to Bar Council elections, but to express solidarity with the judiciary. "Elections come and go, but I am here for the supremacy of the judiciary and to speak against the injustices being done to us," he stated.

He said the 26th Amendment had crippled the judiciary and emphasized, "I was not brought to power; I came through the people's vote." Sharing his recent experience, he said he had written to the Punjab government seeking permission to meet the founder of PTI and even approached the court, which ordered the meeting. "However, at Adiala Jail, a constable threw the orders of three judges into the dustbin and stopped me at the gate," he revealed.

Afridi also referred to the sacrifices of the late Chief Justice Waqar Seth, journalist Arshad Sharif, and others who stood for truth. "If judges now say their verdicts are being ignored, they should join us instead of just writing letters. Lawyers will support them as they have successfully led movements in the past," he added.

Afridi pledged his full support for the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the media, and rule of law, saying the government would stand shoulder to shoulder with lawyers in these causes.

Earlier, President Peshawar High Court Bar Aminur Rehman welcomed the Chief Minister and lauded his visit, saying it was the first time since 2013 that a sitting Chief Minister had attended the Bar, the last being Amir Haider Hoti during Yousaf Raza Gillani's tenure as Prime Minister. He said terrorism had been imposed on K-P, turning it into a "testing ground," but expressed hope that the Chief Minister, being from the tribal district of Khyber, would work toward resolving these challenges.

Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel, senior lawyer Qazi Anwar, General Secretary Ashfaq Dawoodzai, District Bar President Qaiser Zaman, and a large number of lawyers attended the event.