ISLAMABAD: Speaker office refused to give record of parliamentary proceedings related to law curtailing Chief Justice of Pakistan’s powers to Supreme Court.  Sources said SC registrar had sought record on directions of eight-member bench hearing case earlier today (Tuesday). “SC registrar had written to Speaker office to furnish record of last five assembly proceedings and that of Senate’s standing committee on finance,” sources added. Last five NA sessions had been summoned on April 6, 10, 17, 26 and 27.

Earlier, Supreme Court had sought parliamentary record regarding law that aims at curtailing powers of Chief Justice of Pakistan.  At outset of hearing, CJP Bandial said top court had issued an interim order in previous hearing, adding that independent judiciary was key component of Constitution. He said case taken up by court was related to independence of judiciary.  He expected that all parties would submit serious arguments in case. “It is first of its kind law in Pakistan,” he remarked about bill.  CJP said allegations were being made that fundamental component of Constitution had been violated through this legislation for first time in history of Pakistan.  At one point, PBC lawyer pleaded CJP to form larger bench to hear case and sought exclusion of Justice Naqvi from bench as several references had been filed against him.

Rejecting plea for formation of larger bench for time being, CJP Bandial remarked that it was his prerogative to constitute benches. He said no judge could be excluded from bench on basis that reference had been filed against him. He said complaints against judges including him came from time to time but it didn’t mean: “We cannot hear cases”.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 03 2023

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