The Senate has passed a bill to set up ten new accountability courts across the country. The bill was moved by the law minister and passed with a majority vote on October 16. Opposition members walked out during the final reading.
The law minister said the new courts would speed up pending corruption cases. He told the house that over 200 cases were waiting for trial in existing courts. Some accused persons had been waiting for years, he added.
Opposition’s objections
Opposition senators said the government was rushing the bill. They asked why the bill was not sent to the standing committee for review. The law minister replied that the committee had already given its report last month.
PTI senator Ali Zafar said new courts would mean nothing without honest judges. He said past courts had been used for political revenge. The treasury benches rejected the claim and said the courts would work under the law.
What happens next
The bill will now go to the National Assembly for approval. The government hopes to pass it before the winter session ends. Once approved, the new courts will start working in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta.
Legal experts said the move was a positive step. But they warned that without enough judges and staff, the new courts could face the same delays as the old ones.
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