By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: In a significant legislative move, six bills approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate have now become law following the signatures of Acting President Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. This development marks a pivotal moment in the Pakistani legal landscape, as the bills will soon be published in the Gazette of Pakistan.
The bills that have been enacted include:
- The Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill, 2024
These legislative changes notably include an increase in the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 17 to 34 and an expansion of the Islamabad High Court’s judges from 9 to 12. Furthermore, the bills stipulate an extension of the tenures for the chiefs of the Army, Air Force, and Navy from three years to five years, a move that has sparked considerable debate among various political factions.
The progression of these bills follows a tumultuous session in the National Assembly on November 4, where they received majority approval, despite significant contention. Following the passage, Deputy Speaker Syed Mir Ghulam Mustafa Shah announced the indefinite postponement of the National Assembly session, reflecting the growing tensions within the legislative body.
