PDM govt demands dissolution of bench hearing SC bill pleas

Islamabad: The coalition government Thursday demanded the dissolution of bench constituted by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to hear petition regarding the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, 2023, saying that the bench has been formed in haste.

Addressing a joint presser along with representatives of all the coalition partners in the government in Islamabad today, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said: “Constituting the bench even when the President Dr. Arif Alvi has not signed the bill and legislation is underway in the parliament is not acceptable at all”.

He said right of legislation which rests with the parliament will not be allowed to be compromised at all, adding that all the coalition parties out-rightly reject this bench.

The Minister for Law again demanded constituting full court to hear the case so that collective wisdom should prevail. “Coalition parties, bar councils from across the country and legal fraternity have repeatedly demanded to form a full court bench to hear the case,” Azam added.

Speaking on this occasion, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Advisor to Prime Minister on Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira said constituting the bench in haste is tantamount to stop the parliament from exercising its right of legislation, which is not acceptable at all.

“Confrontation among institutions is pushing the country towards a dangerous and complicated situation,” stated Kaira.

Senator Kamran Murtaza of Jamat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), rejecting the composition of the bench said: “Constituting eight-member bench is tantamount to usurp the right of appeal”. He added inclusion of junior judges in the bench is also not appropriate which will harm the sanctity and prestige of the Supreme Court.

Kmaran Murtaza continued there should be some criteria for fixation of the cases. He said we out-rightly reject formation of this bench.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain of Awami National Party (ANP) said a well-organized campaign is underway against the parliament.

“The objective of Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, 2023 is to ensure balance in the power of the judges,” said ANP leader adding that Parliament is supreme, and its supremacy will have to be accepted.

Mian Iftikhar also said we ousted the previous government through adopting a constitutional procedure. All the intuitions should work while remaining within their constitutional domain.

He demanded of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court to review formation of the bench for the sake of the country, parliament and the judiciary.

In his remarks Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) Syed Amin Ul Haque also expressed solidarity with the government and other coalition partners.

He said our party has always struggled for supremacy of parliament, impartial judiciary and democratic norms. He was also of the view to form a full court to hear such an important case.

Senator Tahir Bizinjo of National Party said formation of a selected bench may prove to be dangerous for the country. He asked the CJP to ensure representation of small federating units in the bench.

Balochistan National Party (Mengal) leader and Minister of State for Power Hashim Notezai said: “Pakistan is already facing economic crisis and cannot afford more crises”.

He also urged the CJP to form a full court with representation of all the federating units to decide the matter.

“Controversial bench is creating impression of confrontation among the institutions. Creating hurdles in the way of legislation on pre-mature stage is not acceptable,” said Leader Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Shafiq Tareen.

Balochistan Awami Party and Minister for Defence Production Israr Tareen said purpose of our politics is supremacy of democratic system and our party will continue its efforts for upholding the constitution.