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

Pezeshkian’s Pak Pitch Begins

Pezeshkian’s visit marks the second time an Iranian president has visited Pakistan in less than two years Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for a two-day official visit, marking

‘Water Bomb’ on Brahmaputra?

Experts say the dam project could alter the river’s natural flow and place downstream nations at risk of floods and droughts. The construction of a mega hydropower dam by China on the

Pakistan in the Dark: Power Crisis Boils Over

Regular power outages are a fact of life in Pakistan, but recent developments suggest that the situation is escalating to new extremes….writes Nasir Khattak In early January 2025, a nerve-breaking power outage

Modi, MBZ talk big ties

The call reaffirmed their keenness to “strengthen relations in line with their shared vision to leverage opportunities and deepen strategic cooperation.”…reports Asian Lite News In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Narendra
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India to Face Pakistan in Crucial Super Four Clash

Former Pakistan tearaway pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes Babar will have

Blast shakes Lahore market, kills 2

Officials are suspecting that the blast was of an Improvised