ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Following the approval accorded by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Federal Cabinet, President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance 2024.
Under the Ordinance, the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) have been increased.
The Ministry of Law had sent the ordinance to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Federal Cabinet the previous day, and the cabinet approved the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance 2024.
The approval was given through circulation of the summary, and now, the President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance 2024.
The Ordinance grants the Chief Justice expanded authority in scheduling Supreme Court Cases.
Under the ordinance, cases will be scheduled by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, a senior judge, and a judge appointed by the Chief Justice.
Previously, a three-member bench comprising the Chief Justice and the two most senior judges would schedule cases.
According to the Ordinance, the bench will consider matters of public importance and fundamental human rights when reviewing cases. Each case will be heard in its proper order, and if a case is scheduled earlier, a justification will be provided.
The Ordinance mandates that every case and appeal be recorded, with transcripts prepared, and all recordings and transcripts will be made publicly available.
