ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 was presented in the Senate on Friday.
In a session chaired by acting Chairman Syed Dilawar Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced the ordinance, which was subsequently referred to the relevant standing committee.
This amendment includes a sub-clause in Section 2 of the Practice and Procedure Act, adding a committee with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the senior-most judge, and a judge nominated by the Chief Justice. Under Section 3, sub-clause 2, reasons related to public interest must be provided before hearing cases under Article 184(3).
Sections 7A and 7B have also been added. Section 7A requires cases to be heard before filing, with reasons to be given if a bench hears a case out of turn. Section 7B mandates the recording and public availability of case transcripts and recordings.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet approved this amendment, enacted with President Asif Zardari's signature on September 20, 2024, extending the chief justice’s authority over scheduling Supreme Court cases.