ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa has nominated Justice Aminuddin Khan as the third member of the committee charged with constituting benches and deciding cases under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. The move follows the promulgation of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, which aims to increase transparency in Pakistan’s judicial process. The committee, set up under the newly amended Practice and Procedure Act, will be headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, with a senior judge (Justice Mansoor Ali Shah) and a third senior judge as members. The regulation gives the President of the Supreme Court the power to appoint, as necessary, a judge of the Supreme Court as the third member of this committee. Earlier in the day, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar announced the promulgation of the ordinance, saying it was approved by the Federal Cabinet and enacted by President Asif Ali Zardari. Tarar emphasized that one of the key objectives of the order was to address delays in hearing cases that often occurred due to the non-availability of the third member of the committee in Islamabad. Tarar outlined significant provisions of the ordinance, including the introduction of a strict first-come, first-served principle in the courts. “The case that comes first will be heard by the court first, and other cases will be determined according to their number,” he explained. A significant change introduced by the decree is the requirement to document why the matter is considered a matter of public importance according to § 184, paragraph 3 of the Constitution, even before it is discussed in court. The formal order must clarify whether the case involves public interest or human rights issues. In addition, the regulation grants the right to appeal against any decision of the Supreme Court under § 184, paragraph 3. To further increase transparency, the regulation orders that a full transcript of the court proceedings, including the comments and observations of the judges, be drawn up and made available to the public. “This step was taken to make the judicial process more transparent,” Tarar noted. The minister also drew attention to the pending petition regarding review of Article 63-A, stressing the urgency of the decision. “There should have been some decision regarding the revision of 63-A because it is an important matter,” he said. The order represents a significant step in the government’s efforts to improve the efficiency and transparency of Pakistan’s judiciary while addressing key legal issues that remain unresolved.
