SC ordinance tabled in Senate

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024 (Ordinance No, VIII of 2024) was laid in the Senate on Friday, which was later referred to the standing committee concerned by the acting Senate chairman.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled the bill as required by Article 89(2) of the Constitution. The bill proposed insertion of sub-clauses in various sections of the Practice and Procedure Act, relating to the composition of the three-judge practice and procedure committee of the apex court and other matters.

According to a new sub-clause in Section 2, apart from the chief justice, one senior judge and one judge nominated by the chief justice would be included in that committee. Under sub-clause ii in Section 3 reasons for public interest cases must be given before hearing the matter under and Article 184(3).

Section VIIB and VIIB have also been added. Under VIIA, which are filed first will be heard first but if a bench hears a case against its turn, it has to give reasons. Also every court case and appeal will be recorded under Section VIIB.

Meanwhile, speaking on the floor of the house, Senator Talal Chaudhry sharply criticised Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for promoting the provincial government employees who were brought here to attack Islamabad.

He said that those government employees were given one-grade promotion following their release by the chief minister. Talal Chaudhry advised the federal government to take these measures seriously.

Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal Friday said that the federal government was committed to utilising all resources for the development of Balochistan.

Responding to a question during the ongoing 343rd session of the Upper House, he informed the house that a total of 200 PSDP projects were underway in Balochistan, with an estimated cost of Rs1,429 billion.

He said an amount of Rs130 billion had been earmarked for the PSDP in 2024-25 while more allocation of funds would be ensured for the uplift of the Balochistan projects.

However, he stressed the importance of improving the administrative capacity of provinces for better service delivery of funds and resources after allocations.

Meanwhile, Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain replying to a question told the House that restructuring of the Utility Stores Corporation was underway to make it more viable in terms of business and its day-to-day operations.

The Minister said that during the restructuring, the rights of the utility Stores' employees would be safeguarded.