National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice has rejected "The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016" and passed "The Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill, 2016" to ban private practice of public prosecutors. The Committee met with Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk in the chair at Parliament House on Monday.
The Committee discussed the Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill 2016, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (moved by Naeema Kishwar Khan), the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Work Place (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the National Accountability Ordinance (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (moved by Muhammad Ayaz Soomro).
The Committee also disposed of a bill relating to allocate special quota for women judges in the Supreme Court. The members said that there is no prohibition or any restriction to meet merit for appointing a female judge in the Supreme Court. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Zafarullah Khan said that the Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is a government bill and some amendments were incorporated in it. He said that the name of "Standing Counsel" has been replaced by "Assistant Attorney-General". He said through another amendment, Attorney General for Pakistan, Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General would not be allowed to private practice. However, he said the salaries of assistant attorneys general would be increased in the forthcoming budget 2016-17. He said that as many as 103 Standing Counsel for federal government were working across the country.
The members of the Committee while supporting the Bill said that if the government wants to stop private practice of lawyers who have state offices then their salaries should be increased. The Committee passed "The Central Law Officers (Amendment) Bill, 2016" without any opposition.
The Committee members rejected "The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Bill, 2016" and said that there is need to expedite the cases and avoid giving unnecessary remarks and taking social cases. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Zafarullah Khan said while discussing the Bill that Supreme Court Bar Association and even the Supreme Court are not in favour to increase the number of judges of Supreme Court.
Ali Muhammad Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that his party is not in favour of increased number of judges. However, he said there is need to strengthen the lower judiciary and to enhance its role. Committee Chairman Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk said there is not any load on the Supreme Court; however, the Supreme Court should avoid taking suo moto notice and social cases.
Ali Muhammad Khan said that suo motu notices already have been decreased of the apex court. He said there is a need of improvement in lower judiciary. Afterward, the Committee rejected "The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Bill, 2016". The members of the Committee also discussed the salaries of Parliamentarians and unanimously supported to increases their salaries. They claimed the grade of an MNA is greater than that of a Lieutenant General or a Secretary but his/her salary is less than them. They said that the salaries of Parliamentarians should be compared with the Parliamentarians of neighbouring countries Bangladesh, India and others.
The Committee referred "The Protection against Harassment of Women at Work Place (Amendment) Bill, 2014" to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights. The Committee clubbed "The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2015" moved by Sahibzada Tariq of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) with a bill of the government which would be tabled in the next few days. The Committee also clubbed National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2015 moved by Muhammad Ayaz Soomro with others identical bills by Raza Hayat Hiraj and other MNAs for further deliberations.
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