In a notable development, President Asif Ali Zardari has authorized an increase in the number of judges at the Peshawar High Court (PHC), expanding the total from 20 to 30. This decision, confirmed by a notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice, includes the Chief Justice and was made under Article 192 of the Constitution.
This decision follows closely on the heels of the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2024, by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Daniyal Chaudhry. The bill proposes increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 23. While the government did not oppose the bill, it encountered resistance from opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who raised concerns about the quorum. The bill is now under review by the standing committee.
