ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan Bar Council (BBC) on Wednesday petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking a declaration that the proposed constitutional amendments cannot be introduced or enacted by parliament in a purported exercise ofits power under Article 239 of the Constitution, as it would amount to repealing, altering and abrogating the Constitution.

Moved through former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Shahid Zuberi, the petition pleaded the proposed constitutional package will repeal, alter and abrogate the salient features of the Constitution including the fundamental rights, the independence of judiciary, principles of separation of powers and rightto accesstojustice.

The petitionfeared that the proposed amendments will change Pakistan from a parliamentary democracy into a state controlled by establishment and ruled by extra constitutional forces.

Therefore, the apex court should restrain the federal government or any other member of the parliament from introducing the proposed constitutional amendments bill in either house of parliament.-Staff Reporter