Bill to Limit Powers of Chief Justice Introduced in National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar on Wednesday tabled a bill to restrict the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to take so-motu notice. The so-motu case will be decided by a committee of the Chief Justice and two senior-most judges. There will also be a right to appeal within 30 days. Sources said that the Standing Committee on Law and Justice will pass the bill today itself and submit a report in the House. Earlier, the federal cabinet approved the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023. The approval was given in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday evening. According to the amendment bill, the so-motu decision will be taken by a three-member committee comprising the Chief Justice and two senior-most judges. The bench will be decided by majority vote. Under the amendment bill, there will be a right to appeal against the so-motu notice and the appeal can be filed in 30 days, the appeal will be fixed in two weeks. The appeal will be heard by a larger bench, the case for appeal will be fixed for hearing within 14 days. Under Article 188, the party will have the right to appoint a lawyer of his choice for a review appeal, but the advocate must be the Advocate Supreme Court.