- PTI and JUI-F oppose the decision to increase the number of Supreme Court judges.
- Hamid Khan described it as “an attack on the independence of the judiciary.”
- JUI-F says the legislation aims to appoint preferred judges.
ISLAMABAD: Amid opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice has approved increasing the number of Supreme Court judges to 25 in Pakistan. In order to clear the accumulated issues.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Farooq Naik, agreed to increase the scheduled number of Supreme Court judges to 25, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
During the committee meeting, former ruling party and JUI-F legislators strongly opposed the decision, with PTI Senator Hameed Khan saying they had strong reservations about such legislation. “Such a method of appointing Supreme Court judges is an attack on the independence of the judiciary,” he said.
In a statement, JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza said the legislation aims to appoint “preferred judges” to the Supreme Court. He added: “After October 25, the judges are working smoothly (…) There is no need to increase the strength of the sanctions.”
However, PPP Senator Shahadat Awan emphasized the need to increase the number of Supreme Court judges to at least 21.
talking to Geographic NewsPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Khalil Tahir said that Senator Abdul Qadir presented a private members’ bill, which seeks to increase the power of Supreme Court judges.
He said that during the meeting, the majority of members of the Senate Standing Committee supported raising the number to 25 for “swift justice.”
He pointed out that more than 60,000 cases are still pending before the Supreme Court, while stressing the need to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Courts.
On the other hand, JUI-F Senator Murtaza said that he and PTI’s Hamid oppose the bill, adding that the bill represents an attack on the “independent judiciary”.
He asked the government not to change the principles, which he says would give the impression of appointing favored judges.
He said: “By introducing such legislation, you (the government) are trying to sharpen the division (in the judiciary).”
Recently, a full court meeting – chaired by the newly appointed PJD’s Yahya Afridi – was informed that 59,191 cases are currently pending in the Supreme Court.
Earlier in September, an independent senator from Balochistan, Muhammad Abdul Qadir, introduced a bill in the upper house of parliament, seeking to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1997 to increase the number of senior judges of the court to 20 without the chief justice. justice.
He called for increasing the number of senior court judges from 17 to 21, as there are “more than 53,000 cases” pending in the Supreme Court.
Federal Minister of Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar also supported the legislation and suggested that the new draft law be referred to the relevant committee.
During his address to the Senate session, Tarar supported the points raised by Senator Qadir, saying that many cases related to death penalties are still awaiting rulings since 2015. He added that “a person spent 34 years in prison due to an appeal being heard before the Supreme Court.” .
It is pertinent to mention here that in a bid to reduce the waiting of cases, two retired judges – Justice (Retd) Tariq Masood and Justice (Retd) Mazhar Alam Miankhel – have been appointed as Special Judges of the Supreme Court for a term. For one year in July.
Meanwhile, News It was reported that the government has decided to postpone the introduction of a key bill – seeking to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2024 – in the National Assembly.
The House is now likely to consider the bill on Special Members’ Day next Tuesday.
PML-N MNA Daniel Chowdhury will move the bill as a private member and will be supported by members on the Treasury Benches.
The proposed legislation, which requires a simple majority for approval in the House of Representatives, seeks to increase the number of judges of the Supreme Court in Pakistan.
This development came as the ruling coalition continues to implement reforms in the country’s judicial structure, the latest of which is the 26th Constitutional Amendment – which changed the AKP appointment procedures, determined the term of office, and created constitutional seats.