By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE – Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has stressed that the authority to appoint judges, including the Chief Justice, should rest with Parliament and not solely with the judiciary. Addressing the annual ceremony of a private college in Lahore, he said divisions within the judiciary over appointments have been a historical reality and must now end.
He stated that interpretations suggesting that judges alone should appoint judges are incorrect and highlighted that parliamentary amendments regarding judicial appointments were previously halted by courts. He also noted that elected governments in the past were repeatedly removed through judicial interventions.
On education, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan emphasized the importance of women’s access to higher education. “Every girl here is like a daughter to me,” he said, recalling that his own sisters could not study beyond primary school. He criticized the disparity in educational spending, noting that private schools spend around sixty thousand rupees per week per student, while government schools spend just eighty-seven dollars annually.
The Speaker also praised the Armed Forces of Pakistan, stating their capabilities are recognized worldwide, and announced that a new university has been established in Khudian to provide greater higher education opportunities for local students.
He expressed gratitude to Parliament for establishing the Constitutional Court, which now ensures that ordinary citizens have the right to be heard before the Supreme Court.
Additionally, he remarked on global affairs, saying, “Donald Trump still reminds the world that we shot down India’s aircraft,” and underlined the potential of the nation’s daughters in shaping the country’s future.
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