Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended a verdict of the Lahore High Court and establishemnt of election tribunals in Punjab by the ECP.
A larger five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Esa heard the ECP appeal against the LHC verdict for formation of election tribunals in Punjab.
The SC rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader objection on inclusion of Chief Justice in the larger bench.
Counsel of Salman Akram Raja, Hamid Khan filed deferement petition while the PTI counsel Niaz Ullah Niyazi objectioning inclusion of Chief Justice in the bench said that his client has an objection that the CJ will not be the part of the bench.
The CJ rejecting objection said that this bench will hear the case. He said that we have listened your objections and this is a matter between Chief Justice and the ECP.
Why did a private person has interest in it so much? the CJ asked.
The CJ addressing to Salman Akram Raja said ” I had asked you in the first hearing of the case that do you have any objection over my inclusion in the bench ? and you responded “I have no objection”.
Salman Akram Raja said that he has not any objection to this day as well over inclusion of the CJ in the bench.
The CJ questioned to a counsel of the ECP how many tribunals you needed. To which the ECP counsel apprised that we needed nine judges and we have no objection on the consultations.
He said that but there should be a difference and balance in a dictation and consultations.
He insisted that we are approaching towards a meaningful consultations it warrants suspension of the LHC verdict.
The SC suspended the LHC one-member bench verdict for formation of eight tribunals and notification of the ECP.
The SC has left the matter on consultations between the LHC and the ECP.
The SC order said that the consulations will be held after appointment of new Chief Justice of the LHC.
The CJ said that as the appointment process of Chief Justice LHC completes the ECP immediately hold consultation with the CJ LHC.
Later, the hearing of the case prorogued for indefinite period.
