Acting president Gillani signs all six bills into law

All six bills approved by the Senate and National Assembly earlier today have officially become law, following the signature of Acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani. This legislative action, taken on Tuesday, includes notable amendments aimed at enhancing the country’s judiciary.

Among the bills is the Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 17 to 34, including the Chief Justice. This move is designed to address the growing backlog of cases, reflecting a consistent rise in litigation across Pakistan. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted the urgency of this amendment, stating, “It is necessary to increase the number of judges to effectively manage the increasing volume of cases.”

Another critical piece of legislation is the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which incorporates changes introduced by the 26th Constitutional Amendment. This amendment aims to facilitate the formation of constitutional benches, thus streamlining judicial processes.

Additionally, the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed to increase the number of judges from nine to twelve, addressing the rising demand for judicial services in Islamabad as it evolves into a cultural and business hub.

In a parallel legislative effort, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented amendments to the Pakistan (Army/Air Force/Navy) Act, 2024, which aim to align the tenure and appointment processes of military chiefs with the revised regulations set forth in the recent constitutional amendments. These changes seek to standardize the service limits and retirement ages for the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, allowing for extended tenures.