Rumours have been swirling that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa delayed a key Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting to assist the government’s judicial reform package. This package allegedly includes a clause to extend the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.
Legal expert Reema Omer disputes these claims, using the minutes from the JCP meeting and a letter from the Chief Justice. The federal government also denies plans to extend the Chief Justice’s term, which ends next month.
Reema Omer explained on X, formerly Twitter that the meeting delay came at the federal law minister’s request. The government was considering changes to Article 175A of the Constitution, which would alter the commission’s structure.
Justice Yahya Afridi proposed postponing the agenda discussion, a motion all members supported. Despite wanting the meeting to proceed, CJP Isa postponed it, respecting the majority’s wishes. He established a committee to amend the nomination process, making it more transparent. The committee’s findings were slated for discussion on May 3, 2024, but have been rescheduled.
Rumours of an extension grew after a bill in the Senate proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 21 to manage rising case backlogs. Independent senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir from Balochistan introduced the bill titled “Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Act, 2024.”
A similar bill in the National Assembly, introduced by PML-N’s Daniyal Chaudhry, sought to raise the number to 23 but faced opposition from PTI. The bill was deferred following PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan’s argument that it involved federal expenditures and thus should be government-introduced.
At a recent event, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar reiterated that CJP Isa has no interest in extending his tenure, emphasizing the gap between rumours and reality.
