New judicial reforms: Govt is confident to pass constitutional amendment in NA tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: In the midst of speculation about new judicial reforms, including the potential extension of retirement ages for judges of superior courts, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that the government is set to introduce a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly on Saturday.

Speaking to journalists at the parliament on Friday, Asif expressed confidence in the government’s numbers, saying they had secured the necessary votes in the lower house.

This legislative move comes amid reports that the government is considering a broader judicial reform package. One significant aspect of this package is an increase in the retirement age for judges of the Supreme Court, currently set at 65, which would rise to 68, while the retirement age for high court judges would increase from 62 to 65.

Although details about the proposed amendments remain scarce, the government has been working diligently to secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and close the gap in the Senate, where it is reportedly only three votes short.

Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has instructed its Senate members to refrain from voting on the constitutional amendment until further guidance from party leadership, signaling some potential internal resistance.

In the backdrop of these discussions, there have been speculations regarding a possible extension for Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. However, Justice Isa has firmly denied any support for individual-specific tenure changes, emphasizing that any reforms must not be tailored for specific individuals.

He also clarified that any decisions on judicial tenure should involve input from both government and opposition members.