April 13, 2023
1 min read

Pakistan: Ruling coalition rejects ‘controversial’ SC bench

The bench will take up three petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023…reports Asian Lite News

The ruling Pakistan alliance on Thursday rejected the formation of an eight-member “controversial” bench of the Supreme Court that will take up a set of petitions challenging the bill clipping the Chief Justice’s powers.

In a statement issued earlier in the day ahead of the hearing, the coalition partners vowed to resist attempts to take away Parliament’s authority and to interfere in its constitutional domain, The News reported.

The hard-hitting response to the constitution of the bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial came just hours before the hearing was set to start.

The court bench also includes Justices Ijaz ul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Shahid Waheed.

None of the judges who raised questions on the powers of the CJP were included in the bench, The News reported.

The bench will take up three petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 amidst a boycott by the country’s top lawyers body of court proceedings in protest “against fixation of pleas in haste”.

A late-night announcement, made by PBC Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid and Executive Committee Vice Chairman Hassan Raza Pasha, said that the CJP constituted the bench in haste for hearing the petitions, The News reported.

They said that the lawyers’ community would boycott the court proceedings across the country on Thursday.

Earlier this week, the bill clipping CJP powers was passed by a joint sitting of parliament after President Arif Alvi returned it.

ALSO READ: More attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan

Previous Story

India to put across concerns of Global South at G20, says Jaishankar

Next Story

Goyal calls India as a ‘voice of developing nations’

Latest from -Top News

Perdue sworn in as US envoy to China 

David Perdue, a ‘hawkish’ figure in US politics, served as a Senator from 2015 to 2021, where he gained a reputation for his firm stance on China.  David Perdue, the former US

Mock drills held nationwide 

The nationwide mock drills are part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance civil defence capabilities and coinciding with the Pahalgam attack and India’s retaliatory action to it.   India conducted large-scale

India’s deepest strikes since 1971 

By extending its strike capabilities deep into Pakistan’s heartland, India has redrawn the contours of conventional deterrence in the subcontinent. This could embolden future Indian responses to cross-border terror attacks, but it

PM calls off Europe trip 

The visit was slated to include India’s participation in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on May 15–16.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has postponed his forthcoming visits to Norway, Croatia, and the

UK urges direct dialogue 

Describing the situation as a “serious concern,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged both nuclear-armed neighbours to avoid escalation and prioritise diplomatic avenues.  UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called on India
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Nawaz Unveils PML-N’s Election Manifesto

Nawaz Sharif called Pakistan’s economy the most important aspect of

TTP: Pakistan in resettlement talks with Taliban

The Afghan Taliban proposed a new plan that envisaged disarming