Supreme Court (SC) Tuesday formed a ‘new larger bench’ to hear review petition regarding interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution of Pakistan. The decision was reportedly taken during a meeting of Practice and Procedure Committee headed by CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The new bench will be led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and it includes Justices Ameenuddin, Jamal Mandokhel, Mazhar Alam Miankhail, and Justice Naeem Afghan. The formation of the new bench comes after Justice Munib Akhtar did not attended the proceedings.

Justice Munib earlier penned a letter to Court Registrar, saying he could not participate in the five-member bench, arguing that it was inappropriate for only four judges to hear the case. His second letter prompted the adjournment of the hearing, as he expressed that while he did not formally recuse himself, he felt unable to join a bench constituted by the Practice and Procedure Committee. The apex court’s hearing is crucial as it addresses critical interpretation of Article 63-A, which relates to disqualification of lawmakers for defection.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan