ISLAMABAD: The ruling parties – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Saturday filed a full-court bench of the Supreme Court. has demanded the formation of Hearing of automatic notice on obvious delay in general elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The petition was filed by Farooq H. Naik, Kamran Murtaza and Masroor Usman Awan in which Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi were also sought to be disqualified.
This development has come to light when Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial took spontaneous notice of the apparent delay in the elections to the dissolved assemblies in Punjab and KP on January 14 and 18 respectively and constituted a large bench for hearing. . Problem.
The bench began hearing the case on Thursday afternoon. According to the statement of the Chief Justice, the bench has to examine who is qualified to issue the date of elections, who is the constitutional responsibility of the federation and the provinces and who will fulfill the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections and when.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition – including Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif – has expressed reservations about the two judges on the bench. In the meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz, the Muslim League (N) noted that it does not expect justice from the two judges of the Supreme Court and they should recuse themselves from the benches hearing their cases.
The petition – filed today – cited violation of the Article 10A right of the parties involved, while also noting that Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhil said that under Article 184(3) to take notices ex officio. It was inappropriate to refer the matter to the Chief Justice, who understood. Action “Not valid”.
The Supreme Court judge also raised important constitutional questions about the manner of exercise of suo motu powers under the said article, the petition said.
The petition stated that the concerned stakeholders, who had received notice from the Supreme Court, appeared in the court a day ago through their lawyers and made a joint statement against hearing any matter related to the PML(N). Requested the “resignation” of Justice Naqvi and Justice Ahsan. ), PPPP and JUI (Pakistan) and their leadership and specific SMC No. 1 of 2023 and CPs No. 1 of 2023 and 2 of 2023.
It added that the situation – as enshrined in the Chief Justice’s note – gave rise to several questions of great legal, constitutional and public importance.
Therefore, the parties have requested for the reconstitution of the Bench to hear the petitions under the title and mentioned to do so in the best interest of justice and fairness and to strengthen public confidence in the Supreme Court of the country.
