Islamabad (Staff Correspondent) Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has signed six bills recently approved by both houses of Parliament, officially making them law. The bills include provisions for extending the service terms of the heads of Pakistan’s armed forces and increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court. These new laws have now been sent for gazette notification.
According to sources, the Acting President signed amendments to the Army Act, Navy Act, and Air Force Act, alongside bills expanding the number of judges in the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court.
After receiving federal cabinet approval, the bills proposing increased judicial appointments in the Supreme Court and High Court, as well as extending the terms of the armed forces’ chiefs, were presented in the National Assembly. They were passed by a majority vote and subsequently approved by the Senate.
During the National Assembly session, the Minister of Law proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court judges to 34 and Islamabad High Court judges to 12, despite strong opposition protests. The Minister highlighted that the rising caseload in the Supreme Court necessitated the increase in judges.
Separately, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presented bills amending the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, which were also passed. Under these amendments, the service terms of all military chiefs have been extended from three to five years.
The session also reviewed other bills. The Criminal Laws Amendment Bill was deferred, while other proposed legislation, including the Factories Amendment Bill and Guardians and Wards Amendment Bill, presented by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, was approved unanimously.
