During a Supreme Court session on February 25, 2025, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan referenced the court’s involvement in legislating the extension of former Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure in 2019. He noted that, lacking a legal provision for such an extension, the court had directed Parliament to enact appropriate legislation, leading to the passage of a law formalizing the process.
This discussion arose during hearings on petitions challenging the court’s October 23, 2023, decision to nullify military trials of civilians implicated in the May 9 unrest. Justice Afghan’s remarks underscored the judiciary’s influence in guiding legislative actions on administrative matters.
Justice Aminuddin Khan also recalled how political parties had collaborated in Parliament to grant the extension to Gen. Bajwa, highlighting the political consensus achieved at that time.
The session further delved into the judiciary’s obligations to uphold international conventions, with discussions on Pakistan’s adherence to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
These deliberations reflect the ongoing examination of the judiciary’s role in shaping administrative and legislative frameworks within Pakistan’s constitutional context.
