Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Federal government on Friday notified the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 — that would curtail the chief justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) powers to take suo motu notices and constituting benches became a law, despite a Supreme Court order halting its implementation.
The development was shared by the National Assembly’s official Twitter account.
“Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 of the Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) is deemed to have been assented by the President […] under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is hereby published for general information,” the tweet said.
The bill was approved by the federal cabinet on March 28 and then passed by both houses of parliament — the National Assembly and the Senate — only for the president to refuse to sign it into law with the observation that it travelled “beyond the competence of parliament”.
However, a joint session of parliament passed it again on April 10 with certain amendments amid a noisy protest by PTI lawmakers. It was then again referred to the president for his assent; however, he once again returned the bill without signing it.
On April 13, the Supreme Court barred the government from enforcing the law, saying the move would “prevent the imminent apprehended danger that is irreparable” as soon as the bill becomes an act of parliament.