ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has appointed Justice Aminud Din Khan as the third member of the Supreme Court’s Practice and Procedure Committee.

A notification from the Supreme Court Registrar confirmed that Justice Aminud Din Khan, ranked fifth in seniority, will replace Justice Munib Akhtar in this role. The committee is responsible for bench formation and case scheduling under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

Following this reorganization, the committee now consists of CJP Qazi Faez Isa as its head, with Senior Puisne Judge Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aminud Din Khan as its other two members. This change follows the issuance of an ordinance amending the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act of 2023.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar commented that the ordinance would enhance transparency in the judicial process. Speaking to the media, he explained that the ordinance was promulgated by the President after receiving approval from the federal cabinet.

Under the new ordinance, cases will be heard in the order they are filed, and for cases taken up under Article 184(3), it will be mandatory to explain why they involve matters of public importance. Additionally, any Supreme Court decision made under this article will now allow for a right of appeal.

Atta Tarar further explained that the original Practice and Procedure Act created a committee led by the CJP, with the senior puisne judge and the third most senior judge as members. However, under the ordinance, the CJP will remain the head of the committee, with the senior puisne judge, currently Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, and another Supreme Court judge nominated by the CJP serving as members.