At Qanoondan’s Big Debate in March 2023, Senior Advocate Salman Akram Raja offered a strong critique of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution. He pointed out that this interpretation is still under judicial review.
Raja argued that the Court brought back a provision that Parliament had clearly removed. According to him, this move goes against democratic principles and upsets the balance between the judiciary and the legislature.
Furthermore, he linked the decision to a wider pattern of judicial overreach. Over time, courts have often redefined constitutional limits, sometimes reducing the power of Parliament. Raja believes this trend weakens the roles of key institutions and creates political uncertainty.
In addition, he shared his experience from the 1993 Nawaz Sharif case. That case, too, dealt with similar questions about judicial authority and constitutional roles. It showed, he said, the ongoing tension between the courts and elected bodies in Pakistan.
To conclude, Raja urged caution in interpreting the Constitution. He emphasized the need to protect Parliament’s authority and to stop the judiciary from changing the Constitution through its rulings.
