An amendment bill proposing an increase in the number of judges in the Supreme Court of Pakistan was introduced in the Senate today.
The bill, presented by Senator Abdul Qadir, aims to raise the number of Supreme Court judges from the current 17 to 21. The proposal was discussed during a Senate session chaired by Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani
Senator Abdul Qadir highlighted the urgent need for more judges, citing the backlog of thousands of cases pending in the Supreme Court.
He argued that the increase in judges would help address the delays in case resolutions and handle the substantial number of constitutional cases that require larger benches.
Senator Qadir stressed the strain on the judiciary, stating, “With the increasing number of cases, it has become imperative to expand the Supreme Court's capacity to deliver timely justice.”
The bill has faced significant opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). PTI Senator Ali Zafar slated the bill as a potential misuse of judicial reforms, suggesting that the proposal is politically motivated.
“This bill seems to be an attempt to manipulate the judiciary for ulterior motives,” Zafar remarked. He proposed an alternative, supporting the addition of only two judges rather than the proposed seven, and urged a focus on increasing judges in the subordinate judiciary first.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar weighed in, stating that while there is a recognized need for more judges, the matter should be considered carefully.
He noted that the Peshawar High Court had requested ten additional judges and suggested that the Senate should deliberate on the precise requirements before making a decision.
Senator Saifullah Abro of the PTI also voiced concerns, suggesting that the sudden introduction of the bill could be related to recent decisions by the Supreme Court regarding the allocation of seats to PTI.
He advocated for a more measured approach and called for respect towards the judiciary's decisions.
The bill was referred to the relevant Senate committee for further examination. This move comes amid ongoing discussions about judicial reform.
Notably, on July 24, the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice had previously agreed on the need to expand the Supreme Court’s judicial capacity but postponed further consideration.
President Asif Ali Zardari recently approved the appointment of two ad hoc judges, increasing the Supreme Court's number to 19. The current proposal, if approved, would further increase this number to 21.
