The National Assembly Wednesday passed a resolution to constitute a joint special committee of both houses to institute the requisite judicial reforms.

The resolution was presented before the House by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar which was passed unanimously by the parliamentarians.

Here is the complete text of the resolution:

“This august House BELIEVES that the Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the State of Pakistan, whereby the enactment of the laws including amendments in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 19731is the sole prerogative of the Parliament;

Whereas the Constitution envisages trichotomy of powers amongst three organs of the State, namely the legislature, executive and the judiciary, it is the Legislature which has been assigned the task of law making, the executive to execute such laws under the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the judiciary to interpret the laws; under the Doctrine of Separation of Power, none of the organs of the State can encroach upon the powers of the others;

AND Whereas the Constitution of Pakistan has entrusted this Parliament with certain constitutional mandates including the power to confirm the appointments of judges of the Superior Courts in terms of Article 175 A of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973;

Whereas, there is a long pending agenda of what is left over from the Charter of Democracy, and that the entire journey of democracy from 2008-2022 was defined by a search for parliamentary sovereignty, the supremacy of the Constitution and a balance of power between all pillars of the state; And whereas, the Parliament being the representative of the will of the people of Pakistan, shall not allow any other institution to transgress and encroach on its powers.

Hence, this house RESOLVES that to ensure the supremacy of the parliament and the Constitution in letter and spirit, it hereby constitutes a joint special committee of both houses to institute the requisite judicial reforms, which are the need of the hour.