The eight-member larger bench hearing the pleas against the parliamentary bill seeking to clip powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan has given the Attorney General until tomorrow to submit parliament's record in the case.
During the hearing, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan asked AGP Mansoor Awan if the documents sought by the court at the previous hearing had been submitted.
The AGP responded, saying he expected to receive the record of parliamentary proceedings by tomorrow, also apprising the apex court that he had contacted the NA speaker in this regard.
Full court
Awan informed the court that a petition for the formation of a full court in the case had been filed. At this, Justice Ahsan noted, "Various benches have been routinely hearing cases relating to legislative powers."
On April 13, the court suspended the parliamentary bill seeking to clip suo motu powers of the top judge, till a final verdict in this regard.
The legislation
The bill, a copy of which is available with The Friday Times, suggests that “every cause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by the Committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior-most judges, in order of seniority.”
According to the draft legislation, any matter invoking the exercise of original jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) shall be first placed before the committee of three senior-most judges.
“If the Committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter I of Part II of the Constitution is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which may also include the members of the Committee, for adjudication of the matter,” it says.
The legislation also calls for appeals within 30 days of a verdict, issued on a suo motu case, and suggests that a bench be formed to hear such an appeal within 14 days.
During the hearing, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan asked AGP Mansoor Awan if the documents sought by the court at the previous hearing had been submitted.
The AGP responded, saying he expected to receive the record of parliamentary proceedings by tomorrow, also apprising the apex court that he had contacted the NA speaker in this regard.
Full court
Awan informed the court that a petition for the formation of a full court in the case had been filed. At this, Justice Ahsan noted, "Various benches have been routinely hearing cases relating to legislative powers."
On April 13, the court suspended the parliamentary bill seeking to clip suo motu powers of the top judge, till a final verdict in this regard.
The legislation
The bill, a copy of which is available with The Friday Times, suggests that “every cause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by the Committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior-most judges, in order of seniority.”
According to the draft legislation, any matter invoking the exercise of original jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) shall be first placed before the committee of three senior-most judges.
“If the Committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter I of Part II of the Constitution is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which may also include the members of the Committee, for adjudication of the matter,” it says.
The legislation also calls for appeals within 30 days of a verdict, issued on a suo motu case, and suggests that a bench be formed to hear such an appeal within 14 days.