The government has introduced a significant piece of legislation aimed at reforming the judiciary, with a particular focus on the Supreme Court.
The proposed legislation, known as the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, seeks to increase the number of Supreme Court judges to 23, including the Chief Justice.
The bill, submitted by government member Daniyal Chaudhry to the National Assembly Secretariat, addresses the critical issue of the growing backlog of cases in the Supreme Court.
According to the text of the bill, which has been obtained by *Samaa TV*, the increase in the number of judges is deemed necessary to ensure the timely hearing and resolution of cases.
The bill argues that the appointment of additional judges with expertise in specialized fields, such as cybercrime, environmental laws, and global trade, will contribute to more accurate and informed decision-making.
"By appointing judges with expertise in different fields, correct decision-making will be possible," the text states.
Moreover, the legislation emphasised that the expansion of the bench will alleviate unnecessary pressure on individual judges. "Increasing the number will reduce unnecessary pressure on a judge," the bill notes.
However, the bill also acknowledges the potential for divergent opinions with a larger bench. "A large number of judges may lead to divergent opinions in decisions," it warns, while underscoring the benefits of aligning Pakistan’s judiciary with international standards.
The government argues that many countries with judicial systems similar to Pakistan's have a larger number of judges, which has led to judgments that meet global standards. "By increasing the number of judges, judgments in line with international standards will emerge in Pakistan," the bill asserts.
