ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) will on January 24 hear similar petitions to probe the alleged “threatening letter” involving an alleged international conspiracy to topple former prime minister Imran Khan’s government.
Justice Sardar Tariq Masood will hear the appeals challenging the objections of the Registrar Supreme Court on the petitions.
The petitions were filed in the Supreme Court by advocates Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhatta, Syed Tariq Badr and Naeemul Hasan.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan at a public gathering of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers on March 27, 2022 took out a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it at the crowd, claiming it was proof of an “international”. There is a conspiracy to overthrow his government.
Subsequently, Advocate Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhatta first filed a petition in the Supreme Court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution naming the Federation of Pakistan and the Law Secretary as respondents.
He had argued that this was an unusual situation that could destabilize the country’s law and order, which would incite hostility against friendly countries. He had pleaded with the apex court that the respondent may be directed to deliver the “letter” to civil and military officers for scrutiny.
However, the Registrar’s Office returned the petition objecting that the petitioner had not indicated that the Supreme Court had jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution in any fundamental rights case of public importance. What questions are involved?
The Registrar’s office added that the petition does not meet the conditions required to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of the court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.
The Registrar’s Office further stated that the petitioner duly drew notice, neither mentioning the purpose of the petition nor providing a copy of the petition to the respondent. In which it was said that the petitioner did not withdraw the petition as per Supreme Court Rules 1980.
However, the petitioner Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhatta filed a chamber appeal in the Supreme Court against the objections of the Registrar and requested that his appeal be allowed and the matter be placed before the bench of the Supreme Court.
He had submitted that his petition is fully qualified under Article 184(3) of the Constitution and the Registrar’s objections to its determination before the Bench are illegal.
