ISLAMABAD: The embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged the judiciary on Monday to expedite cases related to rigging in the 2024 nationwide polls and the 26th Constitutional Amendment, seeking “wise decisions” for the betterment of the country. These demands were made at a joint press conference conducted by PTI’s top leaders, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, and Salman Akram Raja in Islamabad on Monday. “One year has passed after the nation gave the mandate to the PTI,” claimed Gohar, criticising the fact that a “Form 47” government had been formed by bulldozing the majority. The former ruling party’s chairman alleged that his party had filed 74 petitions against vote rigging during the Feb 8 polls, however, the courts have failed to announce any verdicts till today. Subsequently, he also criticised the 26th Constitutional Amendment — a judiciary-centric legislation passed by both houses of parliament in October last year. He highlighted that under the 26th Amendment, almost 46 judges were appointed to the superior judiciary, including 12 in Sindh, 10 in Peshawar, nine in Lahore, three in Balochistan, and two in Islamabad. It is noteworthy to mention here that the appointments to the superior judiciary drew criticism from some Supreme Court judges, the legal fraternity and the PTI which boycotted the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) session. The opposition party and SC judges demanded the postponement of the JCP meetings until the cases against the 26th Amendment were decided. Reiterating the demand, Gohar said that the case related to the contentious constitutional amendment must be heard and decided by the judiciary. Ayub, addressing the press conference, the PTI leader also demanded the judiciary to stand up for the rule of law and release all political prisoners, including party founder Imran Khan — who has been behind bars since August 2023. “Judges of the anti-terrorism courts will have to take a stand,” urged the opposition leader in the National Assembly, adding that the judiciary should have stood on its feet and told everyone that “enough is enough”.