Earlier, during the hearing of a petition filed by PTI candidate and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari’s ruling in the Friday’s election, which led to PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz’s victory, the government requested the top court to form a full court bench in the case.
However, the apex court, after an hours-long hearing of the case, rejected the government’s plea.
Reacting to the development, Barrister Sheikh Hassan Tariq tweeted: “Judge No. 4 and 7 on seniority list are on every bench of any importance. Judge No. 2, 3 and 6 are always missing. And Chief Justice Umar Bandial wants us to think that SC is ‘impartial’. Clearly, it’s partial and operates at the whims and wishes of a few.“
Judge no. 4 and 7 on seniority list are on every bench of any importance. Judge no. 2, 3 and 6 are always missing. And Chief Justice Umar Bandial wants us to think that SC is ‘impartial’. Clearly, it’s partial and operates at the whims and wishes of a few. #Benchfixing
— Barrister Sheikh Hassan Tariq (@hassantariq_1) July 25, 2022
Legal expert Reema Omer tweeted: “The current system of allocation of cases in Pakistan has grave implications for the right to a fair trial, judicial independence and the rule of law. It is imperative courts adopt a clear, transparent, credible system of case allocation in line with international standards.”
5. The current system of allocation of cases in Pakistan has grave implications for the right to a fair trial, judicial independence and the rule of law. It is imperative courts adopt a clear, transparent, credible system of case allocation in line with international standards
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) July 24, 2022
Advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferri tweeted: “It is extraordinary that so many members of the bar are demanding a full court and yet it hasn’t been answered. The government is asking for it. It isn’t just a fair demand in the circumstances, it’s the only proper way forward considering the state of the law.”
It is extraordinary that so many members of the bar are demanding a full court and yet it hasn’t been answered. The government is asking for it. It isn’t just a fair demand in the circumstances, it’s the only proper way forward considering the state of the law.
— Abdul Moiz Jaferii (@Jaferii) July 25, 2022