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Following approval from the federal cabinet, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented bills in the National Assembly to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court, which has been subsequently approved
Additionally, the National Assembly also approved a legislative amendment to extend the service tenure of all military chiefs from three to five years. The bill was tabled by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
This amendment will extend the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff and heads of other military branches to five years, standardizing service durations across all branches, reported Express News based on sources.
During a session of the National Assembly presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday, Tarar introduced a motion to suspend the question hour before the resolution was passed by a majority vote.
Following this, he presented the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance for parliamentary approval, proposing an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges to 34.
As the bill was introduced, the opposition erupted into chaos, raising slogans and protesting. Despite the disruption, the minister briefed the assembly on the provisions of the bill, highlighting the backlog of thousands of pending cases at the Supreme Court's registry, which necessitates the increase in judicial capacity
Additionally, Tarar introduced the Islamabad High Court Amendment Bill 2024, explaining that the number of judges in the High Court would be raised from nine to 12. This legislative move aims to address the growing demand for judicial resources and enhance the efficiency of the legal system in Pakistan.
The amendment bill proposes significant changes, including a provision allowing appeals against decisions made by constitutional benches under Article 184(3) to be heard by a larger constitutional bench within 30 days, if possible. This amendment applies retroactively to cases before the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Further additions, including Sections 7-A and 7-B, mandate that cases will follow a "first-in, first-out" basis for hearings. Another key change requires that proceedings for every case, matter, or appeal in the Supreme Court be officially recorded, with transcripts available to the public upon request.
The amendment specifies that court proceedings will be recorded, and official copies will be accessible to the public for a nominal fee of Rs50 per page. Verified copies of these records can be used for legal purposes, thereby increasing transparency in judicial processes.
Meanwhile, Asif presented amendments to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, which were passed by majority vote amidst intense protests from opposition members.
During the voting session, opposition members disrupted proceedings, chanting slogans, surrounding the Speaker’s dais, and tearing copies of the bill in protest. The uproar escalated, with some members engaging in physical altercations.
Immediately after the law minister and the defence minister presented the bills, the National Assembly proceeded with voting despite ongoing noisy protests from the opposition and approved the amendments.
These legislative moves reflect the government’s focus on judicial reform and the standardisation of military leadership tenures, addressing institutional demands and fostering continuity. The proposed amendments now await Parliamentary approval.
Source: The Express Tribune
Additionally, the National Assembly also approved a legislative amendment to extend the service tenure of all military chiefs from three to five years. The bill was tabled by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
This amendment will extend the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff and heads of other military branches to five years, standardizing service durations across all branches, reported Express News based on sources.
During a session of the National Assembly presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday, Tarar introduced a motion to suspend the question hour before the resolution was passed by a majority vote.
Following this, he presented the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Ordinance for parliamentary approval, proposing an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges to 34.
As the bill was introduced, the opposition erupted into chaos, raising slogans and protesting. Despite the disruption, the minister briefed the assembly on the provisions of the bill, highlighting the backlog of thousands of pending cases at the Supreme Court's registry, which necessitates the increase in judicial capacity
Additionally, Tarar introduced the Islamabad High Court Amendment Bill 2024, explaining that the number of judges in the High Court would be raised from nine to 12. This legislative move aims to address the growing demand for judicial resources and enhance the efficiency of the legal system in Pakistan.
The amendment bill proposes significant changes, including a provision allowing appeals against decisions made by constitutional benches under Article 184(3) to be heard by a larger constitutional bench within 30 days, if possible. This amendment applies retroactively to cases before the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Further additions, including Sections 7-A and 7-B, mandate that cases will follow a "first-in, first-out" basis for hearings. Another key change requires that proceedings for every case, matter, or appeal in the Supreme Court be officially recorded, with transcripts available to the public upon request.
The amendment specifies that court proceedings will be recorded, and official copies will be accessible to the public for a nominal fee of Rs50 per page. Verified copies of these records can be used for legal purposes, thereby increasing transparency in judicial processes.
Meanwhile, Asif presented amendments to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, which were passed by majority vote amidst intense protests from opposition members.
During the voting session, opposition members disrupted proceedings, chanting slogans, surrounding the Speaker’s dais, and tearing copies of the bill in protest. The uproar escalated, with some members engaging in physical altercations.
Immediately after the law minister and the defence minister presented the bills, the National Assembly proceeded with voting despite ongoing noisy protests from the opposition and approved the amendments.
These legislative moves reflect the government’s focus on judicial reform and the standardisation of military leadership tenures, addressing institutional demands and fostering continuity. The proposed amendments now await Parliamentary approval.
Source: The Express Tribune
