By Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Shehbaz-led federal government on Monday filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking reconstitution of the bench hearing the election delay case sans judges who already heard the election suo-moto notice.
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan filed a miscellaneous plea in the Supreme Court ahead of the Monday’s scheduled hearing of the suo-moto as well as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s petition challenging the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan for postponing the Punjab elections to October 8. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar is hearing the case.
In the federation’s plea, the SC has been requested to dismiss the election delay petitions in view of the majority 4-3 order/judgment of March 1. The petition also sought the proceedings in the instant petition be postponed in light of the order passed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
“This Hon’ble Bench, in view of submissions made in paragraphs 11 and 12, may graciously recuse from hearing the instant petition and a bench comprising of all remaining Hon’ble Judges of this court, who did not hear SMC No. 1/2023, CPs No 1 and 2 of 2023, may kindly be constituted to decide the questions raised herein,” it requested.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Bandial, in a separate hearing, rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Fawad Chaudhry’s plea to open entry roads to the Red Zone which had been blocked to ensure security. Chaudhry appeared before the Chief Justice and asked him to take notice of the situation to which, the Chief Justice said the administration is taking necessary measures to maintain law and order.
No confidence in three-member SC bench
The ruling alliance had, a day earlier, expressed “no confidence” in the three-member bench and requested to form a full court. The Pakistan Democratic Movement expressed its dissatisfaction with the bench hearing the matter as it met at Lahore on Sunday.
