SC adjourns hearing on deputy speaker’s ruling till tomorrow 11:30am; CJP Bandial says same bench will hear the case
SLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Monday rejected the petition regarding the formation of a full court to hear the Punjab chief minister election case as requested by the ruling alliance, bar councils and CM Hamza Shahbaz.
According to the brief verdict, the same three-member bench — headed by Chief of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — will hear the petition filed by the PTI. Following the decision, the country’s top court decided to adjourn the hearing on the ruling till 11:30am tomorrow (Tuesday).
CJP Bandial said that the court needs more legal clarification regarding the formation of a full bench to issue a verdict on the case as the Supreme Court resumed the hearing for the case of the Punjab chief minister’s election.
The CJP also said that he was unsure whether the decision on the said ruling will be made today. Meanwhile, the court also accepted the petition filed by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the PPP to become a party in the case.
During the hearing, Deputy Speaker Mazari’s lawyer, Irfan Qadir said he was instructed to speak regarding the formation of the full court only; therefore, he needs time to take instructions from his client.
Meanwhile, Hamza Shahbaz’s counsellor Mansoor Awan sought time to take instructions for arguments on merit.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan reiterated that the decision to form a full court will be made on merit. Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar asserted that there was enough clarification in this regard.
Advocate Qadir said he was instructed to speak regarding the full court formation only; therefore, he needs time to take instructions from his client.
