In a recent development, the Pakistan Supreme Court’s newly formed three-member bench has turned down the government’s plea to establish a full court for the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa election delay case.
The bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and including Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, rejected the request presented by Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan on the government’s behalf.
Initially, a five-member bench was formed to hear the case, consisting of CJP Bandial, Justice Ahsan, Justice Akhtar, Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail. The bench conducted three hearings on the matter from Monday to Wednesday.
Read: Supreme Court bench dissolved for a second consecutive day
However, the three-member bench was established after two judges from the original five-member larger bench decided to recuse themselves.
On Wednesday, Justice Qazi Faez Isa ordered the postponement of cases being heard under Article 184(3) of the Constitution till the amendments made in the Supreme Court Rules 1980 regarding the discretionary powers of the chief justice to form benches. Following the order, the bench was dissolved on Thursday.
The apex court announced that the bench would continue hearing the case without Justice Mandokhail. The ongoing situation highlights the complexities of legal proceedings in Pakistan and the importance of following proper protocols and procedures within the judiciary.
