Why in the News?

Pakistan’s new legislation, the Constitution (26^th Amendment) Act, 2024, limits the Chief Justice’s tenure to three years and establishes a special commission to appoint the top judge from the three senior-most Supreme Court judges. President Asif Ali Zardari approved the amendment, which prevents Justice Masoor Ali Shah from succeeding Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who retires on October 25 at age 65. The original idea of extending the retirement age of judges from 65 to 68 was not part of the amendment.

Pakistan

• Location: South Asia
• Bordered by: India to the east, Afghanistan and Iran to the west and China to the north.
• Bounded by the Arabian Sea on the south, the Gulf of Oman on the southwest and the Sir Creek on the southeast.
• It is separated from Tajikistan in the northwest by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor.
• Capital: Islamabad
• It was a part of British India in the 19^th Century; gained independence on 14th August 1947, as a separate nation for Muslims.
• Government Structure: Federal parliamentary republic with a bicameral legislature
• President: Asif Ali Zardari
• Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif
• Official Language: Urdu and English
• Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)