The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice approved on Friday a bill to raise the number of judges from 17 to 25 amid opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl.
PPP Senator Farooq Hamid Naek presided over the committee meeting as Senator Abdul Qadir presented the bill. Senator Qadir stressed the need for this increase, citing the rising population and crime rates in the country.
He noted that cases can often extend across two generations while the number of judges has remained the same since the 1990s, even as the caseload in the higher judiciary has surged.
Senator Hamid Khan and Senator Kamran Murtaza opposed the increase, with Senator Murtaza arguing that recent vacancies were strategic and that the Supreme Court should be consulted on the necessity of more judges.
Senator Hamid Khan raised concerns over financial constraints and suggested focusing on the efficiency of existing resources, particularly as Pakistan faces economic challenges.
On the other hand, Senator Shahadat Awan voiced strong support, noting that with an estimated 60,000 pending cases, at least 21 judges are essential.
Senator Abdul Qadir further argued that Pakistan’s growing population and rising crime rates necessitate a larger judiciary, pointing out that the current number of judges remains unchanged since 1995. He highlighted that vacancies persist in the provincial high courts as well.
The 26th constitutional amendment and international comparisons were also discussed, with committee members contrasting Pakistan’s judicial system with those of countries like England, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia.
The committee approved the proposal, with the Chairman affirming that the increase aims to address Pakistan’s mounting legal caseload, though disagreements remain on its long-term implications.
