The treasury would table a “key bill” related to the Supreme Court tomorrow (Monday) which was deferred earlier this week apparently due to a lack of consensus among the coalition partners.
The time for the lower house of Parliament’s session scheduled for tomorrow has been changed from 5pm to 4pm. The seven-point agenda for the National Assembly session includes “significant” legislation.
Among the items to be presented is the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Ordinance, as well as a notice of concern regarding Pakistan’s ranking of 129th on the Rule of Law Index.
A motion expressing gratitude for President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the joint session is part of the agenda. Moreover, it includes a notice of concern from Aliya Kamran regarding the grounding of PIA aircraft, as well as a question-and-answer session and points of order.
The government intends to pass the legislation in both the National Assembly and the Senate, prompting directives for government members to ensure their presence in the House.
According to sources, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill is expected to be approved during the session.
In September, President Asif Zardari signed the Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance into law.
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In October 2023, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the SC (Practice & Procedure) Act, 2023, designed to streamline the operations of the highest court in the country.
Initially passed by parliament in April 2023, the law stipulates that a three-member bench—comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the two most senior judges—will now determine whether to take up cases on a suo motu basis. This marks a shift from the previous system, where the CJP held exclusive authority over such decisions.
Furthermore, the Act enhances the court’s review jurisdiction by allowing individuals to file an appeal within 30 days of a judgement in suo motu cases. This change is expected to improve access to justice and ensure a more collaborative decision-making process within the Supreme Court.
