In a full session of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, presided over by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, the court unanimously approved amendments to the Supreme Court Rules 2025 based on the recommendations of a specially constituted committee, the apex court said in an official statement.

The meeting was held in Islamabad on Friday and the court formally adopted the updated rules. The Supreme Court emphasized that the changes will facilitate better service delivery and make justice more accessible and timely.

The committee formed under Order I Rule 1(4) of the Supreme Court Rules 2025 comprised Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi. Its mandate was to address the difficulties encountered in the implementation of the rules.

The Court individually commended each committee member for their diligent efforts, which included a detailed review of the Supreme Court Rules 1980, drafting of the Supreme Court Rules 2025, and review of proposals to resolve challenges under the Rules.

Read: President Zardari signs the 27th Constitutional Amendment into law

According to the statement, the updates to the Supreme Court Rules 2025 are aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring affordable and speedy justice.

Additionally, the court unanimously approved granting Senior Advocate Supreme Court status to Muhammad Munir Pracha, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, under Order IV, Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules 2025.

But ironically, despite letters written by senior Supreme Court judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah – who resigned a day earlier and had called for a full judicial review of the 27th Amendment – ​​the court refrained from any mention of the recently passed amendment, which has now become law with the President’s signature.

The 27th constitutional amendment

The 27th Constitutional Amendment includes the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court, which has original jurisdiction in constitutional disputes between the government and cases of enforcement of fundamental rights. Pending petitions or appeals in the Supreme Court or its Constitutional Courts under this jurisdiction shall be transferred to this Court.

The amendment also abolishes SC’s suo motu powers and deletes Articles 184, 186 and 191A. The draft also authorizes the president to transfer a judge from one Supreme Court to another based on a recommendation by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, the body that oversees nominations to the country’s higher judiciary.

The new amendment has sparked widespread concern among the judiciary and the legal community, with critics arguing that it undermines the Supreme Court’s independence. The controversy had prompted letters from sitting judges, petitions from senior lawyers and coordinated protests from bar associations, underscoring the deep concern about the potential shift in the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch.

Justice Mansoor had urged CJP Afridi to engage the executive on the proposed 27th Amendment. Likewise, Justice Minallah also suggested CJP Afridi to convene a judicial convention. These two judges resigned in protest on Thursday after the passage of the 27th Amendment by Parliament.

In a full session of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, presided over by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, the court unanimously approved amendments to the Supreme Court Rules 2025 based on the recommendations of a specially constituted committee, the apex court said in an official statement.

The meeting was held in Islamabad on Friday and the court formally adopted the updated rules. The Supreme Court emphasized that the changes will facilitate better service delivery and make justice more accessible and timely.

The committee formed under Order I Rule 1(4) of the Supreme Court Rules 2025 comprised Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi. Its mandate was to address the difficulties encountered in the implementation of the rules.

The Court individually commended each committee member for their diligent efforts, which included a detailed review of the Supreme Court Rules 1980, drafting of the Supreme Court Rules 2025, and review of proposals to resolve challenges under the rules.

Read: President Zardari signs the 27th Constitutional Amendment into law

According to the statement, the updates to the Supreme Court Rules 2025 are aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring affordable and speedy justice.

Additionally, the court unanimously approved granting Senior Advocate Supreme Court status to Muhammad Munir Pracha, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, under Order IV, Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules 2025.

But ironically, despite letters written by senior Supreme Court judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah – who resigned a day earlier and had called for a full judicial review of the 27th Amendment – ​​the court refrained from any mention of the recently passed amendment, which has now become law with the President’s signature.

The 27th constitutional amendment

The 27th Constitutional Amendment includes the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court, which has original jurisdiction in constitutional disputes between the government and cases of enforcement of fundamental rights. Pending petitions or appeals in the Supreme Court or its Constitutional Courts under this jurisdiction shall be transferred to this Court.

The amendment also abolishes SC’s suo motu powers and deletes Articles 184, 186 and 191A. The draft also authorizes the president to transfer a judge from one Supreme Court to another based on a recommendation by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, the body that oversees nominations to the country’s higher judiciary.

The new amendment has sparked widespread concern among the judiciary and the legal community, with critics arguing that it undermines the Supreme Court’s independence. The controversy had prompted letters from sitting judges, petitions from senior lawyers and coordinated protests from bar associations, underscoring the deep concern about the potential shift in the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch.

Justice Mansoor had urged CJP Afridi to engage the executive on the proposed 27th Amendment. Likewise, Justice Minallah also suggested CJP Afridi to convene a judicial convention. These two judges resigned in protest on Thursday after the passage of the 27th Amendment by Parliament.