Islamabad, the 9th January, 2017:  The Standing Committee on Law and Justice met today under the Chairmanship of Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, MNA in the Parliament House, Islamabad to consider the Constitution (Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2016, the Costs of Litigation Bill, 2016 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (Insertion of new Article 19-B) (moved by Ms. Munaza Hassan, MNA).

The Committee considered the Constitution (Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2016 and recommended to approve it as previously there was no provision for appeal against an order of the Supreme Court in exercise of its original jurisdiction under clause (3) of Article 184 of the Constitution. The proposed amendment provides for an appeal within thirty days of an order of the Supreme Court to be heard by a Bench larger than the Bench which had passed the order under appeal.

The Committee also considered the Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2016 in detail. The Bill was introduced with the objectives to introduce the mechanism for redressal of grievances of litigants and to provide for speedy dispensation of justice and reduce burden on Courts. The Committee proposed several amendments and deferred the Bill for further discussion to make it more viable.      

The meeting was attended by MNAs Justice (Retd.) Ifitkhar Ahmad Cheema, Ms. Kiran Haider, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sherazi, Mr. Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar, Mr. Rajab Ali Khan Baloch, Syed Naveed Qamar, Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Dr. Arif Alvi, Ms. Aisha and Mr. S.A Iqbal Quadri. The Mover of the Bill Ms. Munaza Hassan, MNA and Minister for Law and Justice also present in the meeting.