Justice Mansoor Ali Shah recuses himself from special bench

Islamabad: The most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on recused himself from a special bench to hear tax case.

In a letter to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Shah said that people were watching their actions and history will never forgive us.

He said he had written earlier that he would not be a part of special benches until the full court sits on the amendment ordinance.

It may be recalled that the tax review case was heard on October 4 by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Isa. Justice Shah and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan were the members of the bench.

Justice Shah had written a dissenting note in the case and it was decided to include him in the bench to hear the review petition.

It should be noted that Justice Shah had also expressed reservations about the Practice and Procedure amendment ordinance and left without the Practice and Procedure Committee meeting.

Justice Shah explained the reason for refusing to join the committee in a letter to the Judges Committee and observed that the Practice and Procedure Ordinance was brought in haste. It was notified within a few hours of its implementation. The Judges Committee was reconstituted and no reason was given as to why the second most senior judge, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, was removed from the committee.