The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued the cause list for the hearing of a review petition challenging its interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution. A five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will hear the case on September 30. As per the cause list issued on Friday, Justices Muneeb Akhtar, Ameen-ud-Din Khan, Jamal Mandokhail, and Mazhar Alam Miankhel are also part of the larger bench. The review petition challenges the May 17, 2022, decision made by a five-member bench led by former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

The original ruling passed with a 3-2 majority, held that the votes of defecting lawmakers (under Article 63-A) would not be counted. Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan were part of the majority, while Justices Jamal Mandokhail and Mazhar Alam Miankhel dissented. According to the majority ruling, while the votes of defectors were invalidated, the issue of lifetime disqualification for defectors was left to Parliament to legislate on. This upcoming hearing will re-examine that decision.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan