New bench formed for 63A Interpretation Case

Islamabad: The Practice and Procedure Committee constituted a new bench on the issue of the interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution.

A meeting of the three-member Practice and Procedure Committee of the Supreme Court was held in which the third member of the committee and Senior Supreme Court Judge Mansoor Ali Shah did not participate even today (Tuesday).

According to the media reports, due to the non-participation of Justice Mansoor, the meeting of the Judges Committee will be held again at 11:00am.

On the other hand, the Judges Committee has constituted a new bench on the issue of interpretation of 63A, in which Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan has been included in the five-member bench in place of Justice Munib Akhtar.

A new bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Mandukhel, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Mazhar Alam Khan on the issue of interpretation of 63A has been constituted.

It is also reported that on this occasion Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa suggested the name of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.

Meeting minutes

The meeting minutes of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Committee meeting have been released, according to which a five-member larger bench has been constituted for the 63A revision hearing.

According to the minutes, a meeting of the Practice Procedure Committee was called today at 9 o'clock, the chamber staff of Justice Mansoor Shah was contacted, but he did not attend the committee meeting, he also refused to join the bench when contacted. It was recommended to include Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan for bench formation.

Background

It is pertinent to note that earlier, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah expressed reservations about the amendment ordinance and said that even after the amendment ordinance came, the senior judges should have participated in the committee meeting, while Justice Munib Akhtar was removed from the committee without giving any reason.

Apart from this, Senior Judge Justice Munib Akhtar excused himself from joining the bench of the 63A interpretation case yesterday, which he informed the Registrar Supreme Court through a letter.

Justice Munib requested to make his letter part of the record, which was rejected by the Chief Justice.