ISLAMABAD: In a notable development, President Asif Ali Zardari has approved an increase in the number of judges at the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
The Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a notification confirming that the number of judges at the PHC will rise from 20 to 30. This decision, including the appointment of the Chief Justice, is made under the authority granted by Article 192 of the Constitution.
This announcement follows the introduction of ‘The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2024’ by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Daniyal Chaudhry in the National Assembly. The bill proposes increasing the total number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 23, including the Chief Justice. The proposed amendment would revise the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1997.
Currently, there are 16 judges in the Supreme Court, excluding the Chief Justice. While the government has not objected to the bill, opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai has voiced objections, citing a quorum issue in the assembly. The bill has been referred to the relevant standing committee for further consideration.
