Pakistan introduces Bill to curtail powers of Chief Justice after Cabinet’s approval

Pakistan’s government on Tuesday night introduced a bill in the parliament to curtail the discretionary powers of the chief justice, hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that “history would not forgive us” if parliament did not enact laws to curtail the powers of the country’s top judge.

Pakistan's government on Tuesday night introduced a Bill in the Parliament to curtail the discretionary powers of the Chief Justice, hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that "history would not forgive us" if parliament did not enact laws to curtail the powers of the country's top judge.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented 'The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023', which was approved by the Cabinet earlier in the evening.

The development comes a day after two Supreme Court judges questioned the suo motu powers of the country's top judge.

Mr. Tarar said that the Bill prepared by the ministry of law and justice was deliberated by the cabinet and after its approval, he was presenting the Bill before the parliament.

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Giving the details, he said that the Bill ensures that "every cause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by the Committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior-most judges, in order of seniority" and the decisions of such a committee shall be by majority.

Regarding suo motu powers, the draft states that any matter invoking exercise of original jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) shall be first placed before the committee of three senior-most judges.