Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar moved the bill, which was unanimously passed by the National Assembly with amendments.
On the occasion, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar extended gratitude to the members of the National Standing Committee on Law and Justice for their input.
It was the longstanding demand of the bar councils and its associations that had supported the bill which aimed to ensure transparent proceedings in the apex court, he remarked.
All institutions would have to follow the laws passed by the Parliament, he said while citing the Article 191 of the Constitution which says that subject to the constitution and law, the Supreme Court may make rules regulating the practice and procedure of the Court.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the legislation should be called a “judges empowerment” bill.
Leader of the opposition leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmad lauded the government’s efforts in introducing a bill which would ensure the freedom of the judiciary and rule of law.
PTI MNA Ahmed Hussain Dehaar, who is also a member of the National Standing Committee on Justice, congratulated the government for the legislation which would ensure the people’s welfare.
Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the Parliament was legislating as per its constitutional right.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) appreciated the federal government for passing the bill. In a statement, Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid and Executive Committee Chairman Hassan Raza Pasha said that the council had time and again demanded that the criteria for suo motu jurisdiction should be decided.
They also commended that the right of appeal in cases decided under Article 184(3) would now be available, adding that it would be beneficial for litigants and the public. They also appreciated the mechanism for fixing urgent cases within 14 days of them being filed.
