Government Pushes Key Legislative Agenda as Parliament Convenes
National Assembly and Senate to hold critical sessions today focusing on judicial and security reforms.
Government Races to Pass Key Legislation as National Assembly, Senate Hold Crucial Sessions
Islamabad-(Staff Reporter): Today, both the National Assembly and the Senate are set for pivotal sessions aimed at advancing critical legislation. The National Assembly will convene at 4 PM, with the Senate following at 6 PM, both presenting packed agendas focused on major legal and security reforms, including significant Supreme Court-related amendments.
The National Assembly’s agenda includes a seven-point docket, highlighting the introduction of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance. Additionally, a call-attention notice will address Pakistan’s global Rule of Law Index position of 129th, signaling an urgent need for judicial reforms.
The assembly is also expected to consider the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill, part of the government’s ongoing commitment to bolster national security. Other items include a resolution acknowledging the President’s recent joint parliamentary address, and a notice from MNA Aliya Kamran regarding grounded Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s 39-point agenda on Private Member’s Day includes bills introduced by Senators Anusha Rehman and Saleem Mandviwala, along with two National Assembly-approved bills presented by Senator Shahadat Awan. The Senate session will review several reports, including those on the Under-Custodial Investigation Bill 2020 and the Factories Amendment Bill 2023 from the Human Rights Committee. Additional items include a proposed bill for establishing a Pakistan Animal Science Council and updates on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2023.
Parliament will also consider a bill to raise the number of Supreme Court judges to 25, an increase recently endorsed by the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on November 1. This proposal sparked debate among committee members, with treasury members advocating the need to expand judicial capacity to manage a significant case backlog.
Senators Hamid Khan and Kamran Murtaza voiced opposition to the increase, citing financial concerns and arguing that recent vacancies were deliberate. They suggested that the Supreme Court should be consulted on the matter before finalizing the judge expansion.
In contrast, Senator Shahadat Awan strongly supported the proposal, pointing to the Supreme Court’s estimated 60,000 pending cases and noting that a minimum of 21 judges is necessary to address the backlog.
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