Government amends constitution, authorizing parliament to select Supreme Court chief justice, a move opposition parties and independent critics slam as infringement on judicial independence

A parliamentary committee has been established under the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment to nominate the new Chief Justice of Pakistan. The twelve-member committee includes eight National Assembly members and four senators.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Sunni-Ittehad Council (SIC) opposed the amendment, but six independent members who held their seats with the support of the PTI supported the bill.

Following an overnight debate, Pakistan's National Assembly passed the controversial judicial amendment bill early

Pakistan's government on Monday narrowly passed a package of constitutional amendments it said would stop the country's courts from issuing rulings that "interfere in parliament".