ISLAMABAD, May 29 (NNI): The hearing on the review petition of the Punjab Election Commission in the Supreme Court was adjourned shortly on Monday after it began when the attorney general for Pakistan told the court that the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill 2023 had come into effect.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar conducted the hearing of the review pleas against SC’s April 4 order for holding elections in Punjab on May 14.
When Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan came to the rostrum, he objected to the bench. He told the court that the Supreme Court Review Act has now become a law after the assent of the President, adding that the scope of review under the new Act would now be the same as an appeal. He said now only a larger bench would be able to hear the review plea and raised objections to the three-judge panel hearing the case.
He said the law states that it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for a “meaningful review” of the apex court’s judgements and orders in the exercise of the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, as described in Article 184 of the Constitution.
At this juncture, Justice Munib Akhtar remarked that after hearing that the Review of SC Judgements Bill has become a law, a smile has spread across the face of ECP lawyer.
Chief Justice Bandial remarked that this has become a very interesting case as this court also defends the fundamental right of the independence of the judiciary.
Then the top judge directed the attorney general that another court hearing on a set of petitions moved to challenge the government-appointed judicial commission to probe audio leaks is also scheduled for hearing on Thursday ‘so please take instructions regarding that case too’.
“You must have read our order on the audio leaks commission. Keep it in mind that the court didn’t declare the commission as nullified,” the top judge added.
Chief Justice Bandial also remarked that the “high political temperature” was not helpful in any way for the economy as well as the law and order situation in the country. We want to do things for public welfare, he added
The CJP wondered why the federal government made a law to clip the powers of the chief justice. “This court implements the law of freedom of judiciary. The court understands that Article 184-3 should be reviewed,” he observed.
After hearing arguments of the attorney general, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the case till June 1 (Thursday). NNI
