Senate passes judicial reforms bill to clip CJP powers
Senate on Thursday passed the Judicial reforms bill with majority of 62 votes while Opposition casted 16 votes.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar on Thursday moved in the Senate the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, which aims to deprive the office of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) of powers to take suo motu notice in an individual capacity.
The 327th session of Twentieth Parliamentary Year 2022-2023 commenced with Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani in the Chair. The house will take up important legislative business during the session. For live streaming 👉🏻https://t.co/KI6B8gh0Mn
— Senate of Pakistan (@SenatePakistan) March 30, 2023
The bill had been approved by the federal cabinet on March 28 and a day ago, the National Assembly passed it as well after a few amendments suggested by the Standing Committee on Law and Justice hours earlier.
The amendments which have been proposed in the Supreme Court’s rules, have sparked a fresh debate in legal and political circles and it is expected that the bill may be struck down by the apex court.
As the bill was presented in the Senate today, strong opposition from the PTI members was seen.
Moving the bill in the Senate today, Tarar said, “As time passes, to run institutions, you have to go through various periods [and] face various conducts.
“Law never stands still. You have to keep a margin for changes in the law so that the law can function according to the needs of the people in the present age,” he added.
