Pakistan passes constitutional amendments aimed at courts

ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Pakistan's government narrowly passed constitutional amendments on Monday giving lawmakers more power to appoint top judges, who have issued a series of recent decisions favouring opposition chief Imran Khan.

Since February elections marred by rigging allegations, relations have soured between Islamabad and the top courts as rulings litigating results have backed the party of jailed ex-prime minister Khan.

The 72-year-old former cricket star had been barred from running and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party previously claimed the courts were used to sideline their hugely popular campaign.
Under the judicial reforms passed during an early morning session of parliament, Pakistan's chief justice will now be selected by a parliamentary committee and have a fixed term of three years.    —AFP