‘Parliament has gone beyond its mandate’

The hearing of petitions challenging various clauses of the 18th amendment has been adjourned till Thursday. Senior lawyer Hafeez Pirzada said that the present parliament has gone beyond its mandate by including the 18th amendment in the constitution.

He said that the parliament can make amendments, but it does not have the power to change the basic structure of the Constitution. However, he also said that the parliament has abused its power to alter the fundamental framework of the Constitution by adding controversial clauses.

While making his arguments, Pirzada also dispelled the impression that the court does not have the power to scrap the 18th amendment.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that that efforts should be made to save the constitutional provision and asserted that the judiciary is obliged to save the system.

Speaking on constitutional convention, Justice Khosa asked Pirzada to elaborate on whether the court can strike down Article 2-A by terming it as legistlation.