ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice passed a constitutional amendment bill on Wednesday, seeking to regulate the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers and provide the right of appeal against decisions taken under the jurisdiction.

The committee, in a meeting presided over by its chairman Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, proposed that in Article 178 of the Constitution about the appointment of apex court judges, the criteria shall be based on seniority as well as merit so that the recent controversy — surrounding Justice Ayesha Malik’s elevation to the Supreme Court — should be laid to rest.

However, the appointment of the chief justice should remain on seniority alone, the committee noted.

Mr Zafar said the suo motu jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 184 was an extremely important judicial function, as it enabled the court to enf­orce the fundamental right of citizens. At the same time, the right to appeal against the judgement must be provided in accordance with Islamic injunctions, he argued.

The panel also took up the Protection of Parents Bill presented by the law minister. All members agreed that the protection of parents was necessary and they should have the right to evict an adult child from the house owned by the parent.

The Senate body also decided to hold a public hearing starting from March 30 in Multan, Lahore, Peshawar and Abbottabad to deliberate over the creation of new provinces.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2022