The Supreme Court (SC) will resume hearing the PTI petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone polls in Punjab till Oct 8 as the coalition government has expressed complete no-confidence in the three-member bench conducting the proceedings. The diminished bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar will take up the case today Monday at 11:30am. Ahead of the hearing, security outside the top court’s building in Islamabad was beefed up.

Last week, the apex court witnessed high temperature after the original five member bench hearing the case was disbanded following the recusals of Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Aminuddin Khan. Thereafter, the CJP constituted a smaller bench comprising himself, Justice Ahsan and Justice Akhtar to proceed with the PTI petition. It should be noted that in the election case, the People's Party, Muslim League (N) and JUI have requested to be parties and constitution of the full court. A large number of personnel representing the Islamabad police, Frontier Corps and Rangers have been deployed in and out the Supreme Court.

On the other hand 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.  PTI leaders slammed the Shehbaz-led government for “attacking” the Constitution, pinpointing especially the PML-N for pressurising the country's top court.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP