The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance has been approved by the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Friday. The ordinance was circulated to the cabinet after being forwarded by the Ministry of Law.
The amendment emphasizes the significance of fundamental human rights and cases of public importance, mandating that cases be heard on a first-come, first-served basis unless a valid reason is provided for taking them out of turn. It also requires that all cases and appeals be recorded, with the transcript made available to the public.
The ordinance grants additional authority to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to appoint judges to a committee when necessary. Under the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023, a three-member committee, including the CJP and two senior-most judges, is responsible for forming benches for hearing cases.
The 2023 Act, initially passed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), regulates the CJP’s powers and aims to ensure transparency in court proceedings. However, an eight-member bench stayed its implementation prior to enactment. The amendment seeks to continue reforms that limit the CJP’s suo motu powers and introduce an appeals process for cases under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
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