Today, acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani signed six bills into law following their approval by both the Senate and the National Assembly. These include significant amendments to the judiciary’s structure and practices.
Both houses passed the bills introduced by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar early today. One notable bill seeks to increase the number of Supreme Court judges to 34 to address the backlog of cases. The legislation aims to expedite case processing and allow for the formation of constitutional benches as stipulated in the 26th Amendment.
While addressing the lower house, the law minister highlighted the necessity of the amendments, particularly the increase in judges, to improve judicial efficiency. He also presented a bill to revise the Supreme Court’s practice and procedure to integrate changes from the 26th Constitutional Amendment. This includes establishing constitutional benches, as outlined in the newly added Article 191A of the Constitution.
Read: Justice Munib and Juice Mansoor Call for Immediate Hearing on 26th Amendment
Furthermore, the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed, increasing the number of judges from nine to 12. This change addresses the rising litigation in Islamabad, which is correlating with its growth as a cultural and business hub.
Despite strong opposition, the bills were passed, continuing the ruling coalition’s efforts to reform the country’s judicial framework. This includes changes to the appointment procedures and tenure for the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the formation of constitutional benches.
In addition to judicial reforms, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented amendments to the military’s governance laws in both houses. These amendments aim to align the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force acts with the extended tenure limits for their chiefs, setting a uniform five-year term.
Read: Pakistan Extends Service Terms of Military Chiefs to Five Years
