NA okays bill to 'structure' CJP's suo motu power.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Assembly on Wednesday passed the bill aimed at clipping the 'unilateral' powers of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) in initiating suo motu cases and constituting benches along with a last-minute addition of two amendments, including a controversial one giving right of appeal to aggrieved persons in the already decided cases, with retrospective effect.

The bill was passed at a time when a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) against the Election Commission of Pakistan's act of delaying the polls in Punjab in the alleged violation of the apex court's decision after the CJP took a suo motu notice of the issue last month.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remained present in the house till the passage of the bill which saw opposition only from two newly-elected PTI MNAs - Mohsin Leghari and Saleh Muhammad.

Mr Leghari termed the proposed law unconstitutional, saying the government was intruding in the SC's jurisdiction as amending the rules was the prerogative of the court as per Article 191 of the Constitution.

A number of other members, including those sitting on the treasury benches, in their speeches were of the view that such a law should have been brought much earlier, agreeing that its timing had created doubts in some sections of society.

On the other hand, Mr Bhutto-Zardari termed it 'too little, too late'.

Two amendments to the Supreme Court Practices and Procedure Bill 2023, which the government had tabled on Tuesday night after its quick approval by the federal cabinet and which came before the house for a final vote after its endorsement by the NA's law and justice committee earlier in the morning, were moved by independent MNA from North Waziristan Mohsin Dawar.

Apparently, fearing a backlash over the amendment to an already controversial bill, PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari initially opposed the amendment, but after hearing speeches in its favour from the PML-N members, including ministers, announced his support for it, declaring that PPP was doing it for the sake of consensus within the ruling coalition.

The said amendment had actually been suggested by Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha of the ruling PML-N during the meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice, and reportedly PPP's Syed Naveed Qamar had opposed it there as well.

'Do not ask for this. There will be allegations that...

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