Opp seeks CEC’s tenure reduced to one year

The opposition tabled three constitutional amendments bills in the National Assembly on Tuesday, seeking changes in the process for the appointment of high court judges, reduction in the tenure of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and increase in the number of judges in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

The government supported the bills presented by former speaker and independent member Asad Qaiser, and Sohail Sultan of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), after which the speaker referred those bills to the relevant standing committees.

Qaiser presented the bill regarding the amendment to Article 175(A) of the Constitution, regarding the appointment of high court judges. The bill sought abolition of the parliamentary committee on the appointment of judges.

It said that the Supreme Judicial Commission (SJC) would conduct a competitive examination for the appointment of high courts and sharia court judges and recommend the names of successful candidate to the president for appointment.

According to the aims and objectives of the bill, the amendment would lay down rules for the appointment of judges of the high courts on merit through a competitive examination. It would help promote merit and prevent partiality.

In another constitutional amendment bill, introduced by Qaiser, an amendment to Article 215 of the Constitution had been proposed with a view to reducing the tenure of the CEC from five to one year. Simultaneously, the terms of four election commission members would also be reduced to one year.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar supported the bills and recommended that those should be sent to the relevant standing committee for further consideration. On that the speaker referred the bills the law and justice committee.

Sohail Sultan of the SIC presented the High Courts Amendment Bill 2024, seeking increase in the number of PHC judges to 30. The law minister supported the bills and speaker referred it to the law and justice committee.

Also Naveed Amir Jeeva of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) moved another constitutional amendment bill to increase the number of reserved seats for minorities in the National Assembly from 10 to 20. Similarly, the bill envisaged, the number of such seats in provincial assemblies would also rise.