NA defers bill pertaining to increase in number of SC judges

Islamabad: The National Assembly on Tuesday deferred a bill pertaining to an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges.

According to the amendment bill, public cases in the SC will be heard by a bench consisting of at least nine judges. The affected party will be able to file an appeal against the decision of the SC within 30 days.

Article 184/3 empowers the appellate court to decide on matters of public importance. On matters of public importance, orders are passed by a bench of 2-3 judges, keeping in mind the importance of the jurisdiction of the SC.

MNA Noor Alam Khan said that Article 184/3 had been misused in the past, as many political people had been punished. Law Minister Nazir Tarar said that writing everything in the Constitution created complications.