A five-member larger bench of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, on Monday heard the petition filed by Siddiqui against his removal.
During the hearing, the CJ asked Siddiqui’s lawyer Hamid Khan to complete his arguments and said that the bench wants to decide the case as soon as possible as two judges of the bench would retire in July and August this year and larger benches are difficult to form due to burden of pending cases.
On this, Hamid Khan said that if the hearing of the case starts at noon, more time will be available for arguments.
The CJ said that the judges are here to sit for 24 hours, adding that he would hear the arguments of the attorney general on Tuesday.
In his arguments, Hamid Khan said that his client came to know about the report of the SJC through the media and it is not known whether the report of the SJC was sent to the president on the advice of the prime minister or not.
He said that the SJC relied on the position of former IHC chief justice Anwar Kansi for its report, but the council should have inquired into two separate positions.
He further said that the reference against Anwar Kansi was removed after he became a witness against Siddiqui and the proceedings of three references against him were stopped while the proceedings on the fourth reference were started.
Addressing Hamid, the CJ said that the facts of the case are on record and asked the lawyer to state his requests.
On this, Hamid said that an inquiry into the allegations of reference is necessary.
The CJ said that the court has taken note of all the arguments, adding that the arguments of the attorney general will be heard on Tuesday.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till Tuesday.