Pakistan’s politicians seize control of the judiciary
Powerful judges were seen as a threat to the government
Voting in Pakistan’s lower house of parliament began at 3.30am on October 21st. A two-thirds majority to amend the constitution was secured at 5am. At 6.30am a bleary-eyed Asif Ali Zardari, the president, signed into law the 26th amendment to the constitution. In a race against time, Pakistan’s parliament had won. The rules governing the judiciary had been radically altered, days before the election of the next head of the Supreme Court.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Cut down to size”
Asia November 2nd 2024
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From the November 2nd 2024 edition
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