KARACHI: Amid strong protest by the members of opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami, the Sindh Assembly passed with a majority vote the Constitutional Benches of High Court of Sindh (Practice and Procedure) Bill.
The bill has replaced the Constitutional Benches of High Court of Sindh (Practice and Procedure) Ordinance 2025 promulgated a couple of weeks ago by the acting governor for the formation of constitutional benches (CBs) in the Sindh High Court as required by 27th Amendment.
The legislation empowers the CBs with exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional matters as every petition or application falling within Article 199 of the Constitution will be heard and decided solely by these benches.
However, the bill was passed with some tweaks in view of some legal challenges to the gubernatorial ordinance that declared refusal by a judge to accept nomination to the CB as “misconduct”.
The revised law said that once a judge had been nominated as a CB judge, he “shall not recuse, refuse, or decline to sit on such bench”. However, Clause 4 (2) states: “Where a judge intends, for compelling reasons, to withdraw from sitting on a Constitutional Bench, he shall submit a written request to the Head, who shall forward the same to the Commission for approval or otherwise.”
PTI, JI oppose Constitutional Benches of High Court of Sindh (Practice and Procedure) Bill as Muttahida keeps mum
As per the Bill, no withdrawal shall take effect unless approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
As Law Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar presented the report of the standing committee on law and parliamentary affairs and the bill, JI’s lone member in the assembly Muhammad Farooq rose to demand a debate on the new law.
While the JI member was still lodging a protest after Deputy Speaker AnthonyNaveed denied him the floor, PTI members also stood up and shouted slogans against the new law. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan members, however, remained indifferent.
The bill was put to a vote and passed by majority. After the bill was passed, the law minister criticised the JI and PTI members, calling their protest against the legislation “unwarranted and unjustified”.
He said that the bill was first implemented in the form of an ordinance, after which it was formally presented in the assembly.
He explained that the bill had been sent to the standing committee on law and parliamentary affairs and human rights, with opposition members taking part, and that no member voiced any objection.
“After the committee issued its recommendations, the bill was brought before the house, and the opposition’s suggestions were incorporated into it,” he added.
He said that a PTI member was also present at the standing committee meeting and that all discussions were duly recorded in the minutes.
The law minister urged legislators to fulfil their duties in line with the rules and regulations, reminding them that the assembly is a revered legislative body — not a marketplace.
“The rules of procedures have been made so that legislation is completed in an organised and serious process,” he added.
Mr Lanjar said that courts in the province were functioning and the provincial government’s aim was to make these institutions more efficient and effective so that timely and quality justice could be provided to the people.
‘Inefficient garbage disposal system’
The assembly echoes with opposition members’ concern over the “inefficient” garbage disposal management in Karachi and Hyderabad.
MQM-P member Naseer Ahmed drew the attention of the local government minister to poor cleanliness and garbage disposal by the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board in his constituency and in other parts of the city.
In his call attention notice, Engineer Sabir Hussain Kaimkhani said that establishment of garbage collection centre adjacent to Mehar Ali Society, Latifabad was a major cause of spread of diseases and other issues.
Replying to the opposition members’ concern, Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Qasim Soomro conceded that the situation needed improvement, assuring that the issues would resolved soon.
Durrani’s son Shahbaz takes oath
Agha Shahbaz Durrani, son of former speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, took the oath as a member of the Sindh Assembly.
Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah administered the oath to him. On this occasion, his family members were also present in the visitors’ gallery.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi and several members on the both sides of aisle congratulated him.
“I sincerely hope that Agha Shahbaz will meet the standards of the people with full dedication,” the CM said.
Later, the house was adjourned to Monday.
Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2025
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