ISLAMABAD: A Senate penal has proposed a substantial increase in the number of judges of Supreme Court (SC) from 17 to 26 to ensure administration of speedy justice. The panel was constituted on the resolution tabled by MQM Senator Colonel (r) Tahir Mashhadi in May 2015. The bill had demanded the amendment in SC Judges Strength Act 1994. It was said in the bill that several steps were taken in the past with reference to increase in the number of judges of district and high courts, however, the strength of SC judges has remained the same since 1997. It was laid down in the bill that as per economic survey 2014-15, the population of the country runs into about 191.7 million and strength of SC judges stands at 17 only, which is a major cause in delaying the process of justice.