Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday put off further hearing till three weeks on the petitions againstthe Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 clipping the powers of the top judge.
A SC bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising judges including Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Shahid Waheed heard the case.
The court issued notices to different respondents including the government, Attorney General for Pakistan, political parties, and bar councils to submit their response to the petitions against the bill.
During the proceedings, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz forwarded a plea for the formation of a full court to hear the matter. However, the plea has not been marked yet. The Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Awan, expressed hope that the record of the Parliamentary proceedings would be received soon.
Awan argued that the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 fixed matters of benches and appeals in the Supreme Court. The bill also provides the petitioner the right to change their lawyer in the judicial reforms bill. Awan added that the matters fixed in the law were administrative in nature, and the rules of the Supreme Court were finalized by the full court. Any amendments to these rules can only be done by the full court.
Responding to Awan’s arguments, Justice Ayesha Malik stated that any bench in the Supreme Court can hear cases, and questioned whether the government wants to take advantage of the full court.
Imtiaz Siddiqui argued that the bill is against the independence of the judiciary and was rejected but later passed by the joint session of parliament. He further added that the Supreme Court forms its rules and procedures under Article 191, and these rules cannot be amended by the Parliament.
The ruling coalition government rejected the eight-member bench of the Supreme Court formed to hear the petition challenging the bill. In a statement, the coalition called it ‘controversial.’
The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 was passed by the Joint Sitting of Parliament on Monday amid strong protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers. The bill aims to curtail the suo motu powers of the chief justice of Pakistan. The bill was returned for reconsideration by President Dr. Arif Alvi under Article 75 of the Constitution.
SC puts off hearing of pleas against bill clipping CJP’s powers till three weeks
