Judicial Overhaul Squeaks Through After High Political Drama in Pakistan

After weeks of intense political maneuvering, Pakistan’s Parliament has passed a set of constitutional amendments that will overhaul the process for appointing the country’s chief justice. Critics called it an effort to rein in the Supreme Court as it has emerged as a political force in its own right and challenged Pakistan’s powerful military establishment.

The governing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other groups managed to cobble together the two-thirds majority needed to change the Constitution in a session that continued into the early hours of Monday. In fiery speeches railing against what they called judicial activism, lawmakers in the ruling coalition said the amendments would bolster the primacy of political leaders in Pakistan.

But the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in jail on corruption charges that he denies, boycotted the vote, calling the amendments a blatant attempt to undermine judicial independence. The Supreme Court has repeatedly issued rulings pushing back on the establishment’s efforts to sideline Mr. Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or P.T.I.

The amendments, which were supported by the military establishment, reflect the power struggles that have gripped Pakistan since Mr. Khan was ousted in 2022, analysts said.

Under the changes, the appointment process for the chief justice and other judges will move away from the traditional seniority-based system to one that could be swayed by political interests.

The amendments ensure that judges perceived to be loyal to Mr. Khan will be forced out of contention for the chief justice role. Some independent judges who stood up against the military’s heavy-handed tactics to push aside Mr. Khan and his party will also now be out