Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has taken a significant legislative step by submitting the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 to the Speaker National Assembly Secretariat. The proposed bill aims to introduce reforms concerning the appointment of judges and the tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner.
According to the text of the bill, Article 175A of the Constitution is slated for amendment regarding the appointment of judges of the High Court and Shariat Court. The bill advocates for the establishment of a competitive examination commission tasked with conducting examinations for the appointment of judges to the High Courts and the Federal Sharia Court. This commission will be responsible for recommending nominations based on the results of these examinations, ensuring transparency and meritocracy in the selection process.
Additionally, the bill proposes changes to the appointment and tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner. It suggests limiting the term of appointment for the Chief Election Commissioner to one year. Upon completion of this term, Election Commission members will be eligible for appointment as the Chief Election Commissioner. Furthermore, the bill advocates for the rotation of Chief Election Commissioners from each province in alphabetical order, aiming to mitigate bias in the appointment process.
The introduction of this bill underscores PTI’s commitment to judicial and electoral reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and fairness in the appointment of judges and electoral officials. If passed, these reforms have the potential to strengthen Pakistan’s democratic institutions and promote public trust in the judicial and electoral processes.
