ISLAMABAD: There is a general impression that Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial does not include senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Faez Isa in benches that hear important cases especially political ones and, in some cases, general ones.
However, sources familiar with the formation of benches told this correspondent that the CJP, before taking up the petition regarding the provincial assemblies’ elections, held a meeting with Justice Qazi Faez Isa and offered him to be part of the bench. However, Justice Qazi Faez Isa chose to stay away from the case for the reasons best known to him.
But according to sources, it is believed that Justice Qazi Faez Isa also supports the viewpoint of the judges who gave their dissenting notes that the court should not involve itself in settling political disputes.
The sources said that Justice Qazi Faez Issa has also informed the chief justice that, for the time being he does not want to be part of any bench and would do the work from his chamber.
The three-member bench headed by the CJP is all set to resume hearing in the election delay case today (Monday).
During the last hearing, it had directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to provide Rs21 billion for the conduct of the elections in Punjab. It also noted that there was “absolutely no difficulty or hitch, either financially or procedurally or in terms of the relevant authorisation by and under the Constitution” in the immediate release of the funds in question. The SBP was also directed to submit a compliance report at the next hearing.
