The Senate has passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 on Thursday, setting in motion limiting of Chief Justice of Pakistan’s discretionary powers to take suo motu notice.
Upon voting, the bill received 60 votes in favour and 19 in opposition, breezing through the Upper House despite Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) opposition to it.
A day earlier, the National Assembly (NA) passed the bill after fiery speeches by government members in parliament, criticising former chief justices.
The bill states that any matter that comes before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a Committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior most judges, in order of seniority.
Moreover, it says that any application pleading urgency or seeking interim relief filed in a cause appeal or matter, shall be fixed for hearing within fourteen days from the date of filing.
The development has taken place after two top judges—Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah—criticised CJP Umar Ata Bandial, saying that the Supreme Court can’t rely on him for its decision. Using strong words against the CJP, both of them were of the view that institutions should review this “one-man power show”.
