The Shehbaz-led government on Monday filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) seeking the reconstitution of the bench hearing the elections delay case without judges who heard the election suo motu notice. A miscellaneous plea was filed by Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan ahead of the scheduled hearing of the suo motu as well as the PTI petition challenging the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for postponing the Punjab election to October 8.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan is set to resume the heraing at 11:30am. The fresh petition has requested the Supreme Court to dismiss the election delay case in view of the majority (4-3) order/judgment of March 01. It further stated that the proceedings in the instant petition may kindly be postponed in light of the order passed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, postponing all the proceedings in suo motu matters.

“This Hon’ble Bench, in view of submissions made in paragraphs 11 and 12, may graciously recuse from hearing the instant petition and a bench comprising of all remaining Hon’ble Judges of this court, who did not hear SMC No. 1/2023, CPs No 1 and 2 of 2023, may kindly be constituted to decide the questions raised herein,” the plea requested. Meanwhile a good number of lawyers reached the SC after crossing hurdles and expressed solidarity with Chief Justice Bandial. PTI leader Azam Swati is also present. Some lawyers raised slogans in favour of judiciary on the arrival of judges.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP