A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) heard petitions against its earlier order of striking down an ordinance meant to reinstate sacked government employees. The bench refused to suspend the earlier order but asked the government not to force the employees out of their homes.
Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawad Khan argued in favour of the petition. He said that notices should have been issued to the parties concerned during the initial proceeding. Justice Amin Ahmed, a member of the bench, responded by saying that the court would hear the review petitions with an open heart as it was a sensitive matter.
The court had originally struck down the sacked employees law enacted during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government, arguing that it was against the earlier precedents set by the apex court. The judgment had argued that the law violated the fundamental rights of the employees in the service of Pakistan. The judgment further stated that as the Act was ultra vires to the constitution, hence all the benefits received by the employees as a result of it would cease immediately.
The government filed a review petition against the court’s decision arguing that the case was decided without hearing the government and the affected employees’ perspectives. The petition further argued that the ruling was against the principles of natural justice and should therefore be revoked.
The petition further objects that the judgement was announced 20 months after being reserved which was against the principle of due process. The bench later adjourned the proceedings until November 29.
