Overview

• An eight-member constitutional bench heard challenges to the 26th Amendment, which curbs suo motu powers, fixes a three-year chief justice term and empowers a parliamentary committee on appointments.
• Presiding Justice Aminuddin Khan cautioned against calling the amendment controversial and said it is part of the Constitution unless the court strikes it down.
• Senior lawyer Akram Sheikh argued the bench is not competent because it was constituted under the contested framework and pressed for a 24-judge full court.
• Justices questioned whether a full court could avoid conflicts since the amendment affects all judges, while retired Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi said the Practice and Procedure Committee could convene a full court.
• The hearing was adjourned, with Dunya News reporting a 11:30am Tuesday resumption and Geo News reporting 11:30am Wednesday.