ISLAMABAD: Today, acting President Yusuf Raza Gilani signed six significant bills into law in Pakistan after their approval by both the Senate and the National Assembly. This move reflects the country’s efforts to reform judicial and defense frameworks. Key measures include:
- Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024: This bill increases the number of Supreme Court judges from 16 to 34, including the Chief Justice, in response to rising litigation and a case backlog. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted that this change aims to expedite case processing and allow for the formation of constitutional benches.
- Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024: This amendment introduces Article 191A to the Constitution, establishing constitutional benches within the Supreme Court. The bill aligns with the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which further solidifies these benches and revises the process for appointing the Chief Justice.
- Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024: With Islamabad’s growing population and legal demands, this amendment raises the number of judges in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) from nine to twelve, enabling the IHC to manage an increased caseload better.
In addition, the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy Act Amendment, 2024 was presented by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing reforms within Pakistan’s military regulations.
These legislative measures are part of a broader judicial reform effort led by Pakistan’s ruling coalition, targeting efficiency and adaptability within the country’s judiciary and defense institutions.
The recently passed amendments include critical changes regarding the tenure and retirement criteria for Pakistan’s service chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), and Chief of Air Staff (CAS). According to the amendments, the standard retirement age and service limits applied to senior military officers will not apply to the heads of the army, navy, and air force during their appointed tenure, reappointment, or any extension period.
Both parliamentary houses also approved amendments to the Pakistan Air Force Act of 1953 and the Pakistan Navy Act of 1961.
For the Pakistan Army Act, of 1952, a key amendment was made in Section 8A, increasing the term for reappointment or extension of a service chief’s tenure from three to five years. The amendment reads: “In the said Act, in section 8A, in sub-section (1), for the expression ‘three (03)’ the word ‘five (05)’ shall be substituted.”
Similarly, Section 8B of the act, which also pertains to the length of tenure for service chiefs, now allows a reappointment or extension for up to five years instead of three. The text states, “In the said Act, in section 8B, in sub-section (1), for the expression ‘three (03)’, occurring twice, the expression ‘five (05)’ shall be substituted.”
Additionally, the government introduced an amendment to Section 8C, which sets the retirement age of service chiefs at 64 and addresses service limits, ensuring these age restrictions align with the new tenure extensions.
