(14) No action or decision taken by the Commission or a Committee shall be invalid or called in question
only on the ground of the existence of a vacancy therein or of the absence of any member from any meeting
thereof.
1[(15) The meetings of the Committee shall be held in camera and the record of its proceedings shall be
maintained.
(16) The provisions of Article 68 shall not apply to the proceedings of the Committee.]
2[(17)] The Committee may make rules for regulating its procedure."]
CHAPTER 2. – THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
176. Constitution of Supreme Court. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice to be known as
the Chief Justice of Pakistan and so many other Judges as may be determined by Act of 3[MajliseShoora
(Parliament)] or, until so determined, as may be fixed by the President.
177. Appointment of Supreme Court Judges.__ 4[(1) The Chief Justice of Pakistan and each of the other
Judges of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President in accordance with Article 175A.].
(2) A person shall not be appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court unless he is a citizen of Pakistan and—
(a) has for a period of, or for periods aggregating, not less than five years been a judge of a High Court
(including a High Court which existed in Pakistan at any time before the commencing day); or
(b) has for a period of, or for periods aggregating, not less than fifteen years been an advocate of a
High Court (including a High Court which existed in Pakistan at any time before the commencing
day).
178. Oath of Office. Before entering upon office, the Chief Justice of Pakistan shall make before the
President, and any other Judge of the Supreme Court shall make before the Chief Justice, oath in the form set
out in the Third Schedule.
5[179. Retiring age. A Judge of the Supreme Court shall hold office until he attains the age of sixtyfive
years, unless he sooner resigns or is removed from office in accordance with the Constitution.].
180. Acting Chief Justice. At any time when—
(a) the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan is vacant; or
(b) the Chief Justice of Pakistan is absent or is unable to perform the functions of his office due to any
other cause,
the President shall appoint 6[the most senior of the other Judges of the Supreme Court] to act as Chief
Justice of Pakistan.
1 New clauses (15) and (16) ins. ibid.
2 Renumbered clause (15) as clause (17) ibid.
3 Subs. by the Revival of the Constitution of 1973 order, 1985 (P.O. No. 14 fo 1985), Act, 2 and Sch., for "Parliament".
4 Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s.68, for "clause (1)".
5 Article 179 subs. by the Constitution (Seventeenth Arndt.) Act, 2003 (3 of 2003), s.6, which was previously amended by various enactments (see also Article 267B).
6 Subs. by P. O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., for certain words.
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