ISLAMABAD: Parties in coalition government said that they would not accept apex court’s move to constitute an eight-member “Controversial bench” for hearing ‘Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023’ before completion of its legislative process and implementation.

In their joint statement issued here, ruling alliance said that such move was never witnessed before in history of Pakistan and in conduct of judicial proceedings. “This act is tantamount to damaging credibility of superior court besides making process of justice meaningless,” it said.

Taking exceptions against Constitution of bench before set bill was enacted, statement likened bench composition with purported “Divide” of Supreme Court and also validated ruling alliance’s earlier stance. Honourable judges of apex court in their judgments themselves had also openly expressed their reservations over “One-man-show”, they recalled.

“Pakistan is federating unit and non-inclusion of judges from smaller provinces Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in bench is also regrettable,” it said. Statement said that ruling alliance considers this move an attempt to curtail the Parliament’s power which would be resisted.

Constitution of “Disputed bench” in such haste and then fixing case for hearing clearly indicated that what decision would come. According to statement, action of Supreme Court and statement of bar councils on formation of controversial bench “Is clear manifestation that action is not only against justice and fairness but also against prevailing judicial procedures and established principles”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 14 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.