Islamabad: In response to widespread misinterpretations appearing in media and on social platforms, the Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a clarification regarding the recently enacted Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2024. The amendment restructures the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and outlines the formation of Constitutional Benches within the Supreme Court and High Courts.
According to Press Information Department, the clarification states that the Judicial Commission now includes 13 members and details the process for nominating judges to the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Benches. The most senior judge among those nominated will lead the benches and automatically become a member of the Commission, unless already a member, in which case the next senior judge will take the position. Additionally, the Ministry emphasized that no decisions or actions by the Commission could be invalidated based on vacancies or absences during meetings.
The Ministry also noted that while the Constitutional Benches are mandated for the High Courts, their establishment will only take effect after a majority approval in a joint parliamentary session for the Islamabad High Court and respective provincial assemblies for other High Courts. Until these benches are formed, the High Courts will continue to function as per the jurisdiction established prior to the amendment’s enactment.