ISLAMABAD: Both the upper and lower houses of parliament are scheduled to convene today, unusual for a Sunday, as the government plans to table a history-making ‘constitutional amendment package’ that will increase the retirement age of superior judges by three years and change the process by which the Supreme Court chief justice is appointed.
The package of reforms, widely believed to include as many as 22 amendments to the constitution, has raised widespread concerns among opposition parties and independent experts who say the moves are aimed at increasing the government’s power in making key judicial appointments and dealing with the defection of lawmakers during house votes. The reforms also include changes to Article 63-A of the Constitution, which relates to the disqualification of legislators who cross party lines in voting for a constitutional amendment.
Ahead of the parliamentary session, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) party, told reporters the government had the 224 votes, two-thirds majority, needed to pass the amendment. He also refuted reports that the amendment was being introduced to grant an extension to Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, widely believed to be aligned with the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and in opposition to its chief rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former PM Imran Khan, who has threatened nationwide protests against the reforms.
"It's not going to be a person-specific or individual-specific legislation," Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters on Sunday. "Whatever is going to happen will be in the greater good of the people. It would be to benefit the people, the nation."
PM Sharif's office quoted him as saying at a dinner for legislators on Saturday night that the legislation would be passed “in the national and public’s interest" and to “ensure the sanctity of parliament.”
As of 8pm on Sunday night, separate consultations continued among the coalition partners and opposition parties on the amendments, according to the information minister.
"Consultations are ongoing among the government parties, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman is taking the opposition on board on the amendments," Tarar told reporters. "Efforts are being made to reach a consensus."
AMENDMENTS
The coalition government is proposing that the retirement age of superior judges be increased by three years. Currently, Article 179 of the Constitution envisages that a judge of the Supreme Court shall hold office until he attains the age of retirement of 65 years, whereas Article 195 of the Constitution says that a judge of a high court shall hold office until he attains the age of 62 years. The current CJ retires on Oct. 25.
The government is also mulling revising the seniority principle in the appointment of the top judge, the coalition government's spokesperson on legal affairs Aqeel Malik told media this week.
At present, according to Article 175A of the Constitution, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the chief justice on the basis of the principle of seniority, but there are widespread reports that the constitutional amendment envisions the top judge chosen from a panel of five senior-most judges by a judicial commission and a parliamentary committee together.
The reform package also includes a proposal to allow the transfers of judges from one high court to another.
"If passed, the reforms could mark a seismic shift in the country's judiciary, shaking up long-established procedures and leaving a lasting impact on how the judicial and executive branches interact," Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper said in a news analysis.
In an interaction with reporters, PTI Chairman Gohar Khan said the constitutional package was an “attack” on the judiciary and its freedom.
“We believe the government is adopting an unconstitutional process,” he said. “Primarily, every aspect of the state needs to be independent, especially the judiciary, it cannot be compromised, … If there is any attempt to do this to the judiciary, we will strongly condemn it.”
RESERVED SEATS
The amendments have been proposed after a string of Supreme Court judgements that have ostensibly challenged Sharif’s coalition government, mostly notably a July 12 verdict by a 13-member bench of the Supreme Court that declared the PTI eligible for reserved parliamentary seats.
The verdict dealt a major blow to Sharif's weak ruling coalition, which may lose its two-thirds majority in Pakistan’s parliament if the verdict is implemented. Sharif's PML-N party has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the verdict.
PTI candidates contested the Feb. 8 general elections as independents after the party was barred from polls on the technical grounds that it did not hold genuine intra-party polls, which is a legal requirement.
Subsequently, the PTI-backed candidates won the most seats in the election, but the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruled independents were ineligible for their share of 70 reserved seats - 60 for women, 10 for non-Muslims. The reserved seats were then distributed among other parties, mostly those in the ruling coalition, a decision Khan allies contested in the court.
Reserved parliamentary seats for women and minorities are allocated in Pakistan in proportion to the number of seats a political party wins in general elections. This completes the National Assembly’s total 336 seats.
A simple majority in Pakistan’s parliament is 169 seats.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan women under the leadership of Fatima Sana are set to take on Laura Wolvaardt-led South Africa in the three-match T20 series commencing at the Multan Cricket Stadium from Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday, adding that this would be the first T20 international series in the city.
The second and third T20Is will be played at the same venue on 18 and 20 September, respectively. The first and second matches will start at 7pm Pakistan time, while the third will begin at 10am.
This will mark the first time that the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium will host a T20 and a women’s international series. Previously, the stadium has hosted 11 ODIs and six Test matches.
“The three matches provide an opportunity for both sides to gear up for next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled in the UAE,” the PCB said in a statement.
South Africa, who were runners-up in the last edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa, are touring Pakistan for the second time in as many years.
“The players have been working hard in training, and the series against South Africa is a great opportunity for us to prepare ourselves well before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled next month. South Africa are a strong side and playing against them will help us assess our game under pressure situations,” Sana said ahead of the T20I series.
“We are excited to play at the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium, especially as the stadium is hosting its first-ever international women’s T20I series. The support from the fans in Pakistan is always incredible and with free entry to the stadium, it is a great opportunity for people to come and cheer for both sides.”
During their last visit, South Africa played a white-ball series, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs (part of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25). Pakistan whitewashed South Africa in the three-match T20I series held in Karachi on September 1-4.
To encourage fans to come to the ground, entrance to the stadium will be free, according to the PCB. The spectators will be required to bring their original identity cards to get inside the stadium.
After the series, South Africa will depart for the UAE on September 21, while Pakistan will leave on September 23. Pakistan are in Group A of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while South Africa are grouped with Bangladesh, England, Scotland and the West Indies.
Following warm-up matches against Scotland and Bangladesh on September 28 and 30 respectively, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka on October 3 in Sharjah, followed by matches against India on October 6 in Dubai, Australia on October 11 in Dubai and New Zealand on October 14 in Dubai.
18-member Pakistan squad for series:
Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani