ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) approved Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, which aims to curtail suo motu powers of Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Bill was presented by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar. Earlier, National Assembly’s standing committee for law and justice approved Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 with an amendment. Law Minister said that Article 184 was exercised unrestrained. Suo moto powers were used by Iftikhar Chaudhry without constraints, while ex-CJP Saqib Nisar crossed limits. Under new legislation, decision for suo motu notice will be taken by three senior judges of Supreme Court.

Moreover, bill also includes a clause regarding right to appeal against decision, which could be filed within 30 days and will then be fixed for hearing in two weeks’ time. It added that party will be allowed to change its lawyer in suo motu case. Under Article 184, matter will be presented before judges committee. Committee will review case and later it will form five-member committee for any kind of constitutional interpretation. Act will be taken into effect on all verdict of high courts and Supreme Court.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 30 2023

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