Chief Justice, two senior-most judges to constitute bench as stated in Supreme Court Practice & Procedure Act 2023 n In written order, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa notes Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Ijazul Ahsan agreed with him n 15-judge bench adjourns hearing petitions n Directs respondents to file written comments.

 

ISLAMABAD  -  The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday ad­journed the hearing of a case pertaining to Supreme Court Prac­tice and Procedure Act 2023 till third of the next month.

A full court of the Su­preme Court headed by Chief Justice of Paki­stan Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard the petitions challenging Supreme Court Practice and Pro­cedure Act 2023.

It was the first time in the country’s history that the court’s proceed­ings were broadcast live.

The Supreme Court Practice and Proce­dure Act states that a three-member bench, comprising the Chief Justice and the two se­nior-most judges of the apex court, will decide whether or not to take up a suo motu notice. Previously, this was solely the prerogative of the Chief Justice.

In a written order pertaining to Monday’s hearing, the court said that the petitioners and Attorney General of Pa­kistan (AGP) have to answer the questions raised by the full court bench in this case. The AGP had told the bench that he had to visit Vi­enna in connection with a case about the Indus Water Treaty. 

It said that the chief justice would hold a consultation with two senior judges about the challenges being faced by the said act. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood agreed on the point that the top court would prepare the prac­tice and procedure itself. The court instructed the respon­dents to file written comments till the next date of hearing. 

Dictating his order, the chief justice said: “In view of the chal­lenge thrown to the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 and as the matter is pending adjudication. We will be consulting with two senior colleagues with regard to the constitution of benches,” adding that senior puisne judges Jus­tice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Ijazul Ahsan agreed with him too. Shortly thereafter, the court roster for this week was issued with five benches. The rosters were decided by CJP Isa in consultation with the two se­nior-most puisne judges.

It said that the top court had been requested to form a full court bench to hear this case, adding that the petitioners had also not objected to it. Subse­quently, the court decided to constitute a full bench com­prising all 15 judges of the top court presided by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa heard the petitions against Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023. First time in the his­tory of the country, the court decided to make a pilot experi­ment of a live telecast of a case proceeding through Pakistan Television (PTV).

During the course of the pro­ceeding, the federal govern­ment submitted written com­ments to the court and prayed the court to terminate the peti­tions against the act. It adopt­ed the stance that the petitions against the legislation of the Parliament were not maintain­able. It said that the Parliament was authorised to do legislation under Article 191 of the Consti­tution. It said that the act would affect the independence of the judiciary and Supreme Court. 

At the outset of the hearing, the chief justice asked the pe­titioners’ lawyer to note down the questions of the court and answer once comfortably after the preparation.

Addressing lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim, the CJP said that the top court has its own au­thority to exercise its powers, do you think the Supreme Court Rules 1980 are in conflict with the Constitution?

He inquired whether your client had any personal inter­est or brought the application in public interest.The CJP said that the judge takes an oath that he will work under the Consti­tution and the law, what is my opinion or yours is not its posi­tion. He said the lawyer had not mentioned an article that was in conflict with the Constitu­tion. If Parliament had attacked our right we would have taken it up like many cases, whose right can be taken away by this law, he asked. 

The chief justice further said that I have taken an oath to obey the Constitution and the law, but I have not taken an oath to obey the decisions of the Su­preme Court. He asked the law­yer that tell me what is the vio­lation of the Constitution. What is the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? Where funda­mental human rights were vio­lated should be told, he said.

CJP Qazi Faez Isa said that if the decision of the 5-mem­ber bench was applied to the 3-member bench, the judges could never give a conflicting decision. Justice Athar Minal­lah questioned lawyer Khawa­ja Tariq if he supported what happened in the past. You tell me whether the whole law was wrong or a few clauses, he asked. He inquired the lawyer as he wanted to say that it was not the scope or power of Par­liament to make this law. If the Chief Justice has unlimited pow­er to form a bench then are you satisfied, he questioned. 

Justice Minallah said that read the entire law, the powers of the Chief Justice have been divid­ed between him and two senior judges. If Parliament has abol­ished the monarchy of the Chief Justice, what is wrong with it? Which fundamental right is af­fected by granting the right of appeal? He said that the peti­tioners are saying that the law is good but the Supreme Court should have made it itself.

Justice Munib Akhtar said that Article 184/3 is judicial pow­er, and an attempt was made to prevent the court from ex­ercising its powers. He asked how can a bench be constitut­ed without judicial authori­ty. He remarked that if the Par­liament makes court rules, the power to regulate the court will also go to it. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked the lawyer to add one of his questions, if 17 judg­es sit and make this law, then it is right, if Parliament made it, then it is wrong? This is your whole case I think, he said. 

Justice Shah said that the Chief Justice is not the master of the roster in the whole world. By taking the authority of the Chief Justice, how has Article 9 been affected, he asked.

He further said that due to the division of power of the Chief Justice, the independence of the judiciary has increased, adding that it does not connect it with the independence of the judicia­ry and the powers of the Chief Justice. Justice Jamal Mandokhel inquired whether this authority was given to the Supreme Court in the Constitution or in the law and if the authority of the Su­preme Court or the Chief Justice decreased after the law was in­troduced. He asked the lawyer do you want to limit the power of Parliament to legislate?

Justice Ijaz ul Hassan said that Section 4 of the Act was in the Constitution of 1956 but was removed later, was no constitu­tional amendment required for this legislation? 

Giving arguments, AGP Man­soor Usman Awan said this law is related to the powers of a post, adding that this law will bring transparency to the insti­tution. He said that these peti­tions are inadmissible. Under the Government of India Act, the Judiciary made laws with the approval of the Governor General, he added. 

However, under the Constitu­tion of Pakistan, 1956, the Judi­ciary regulations were subject to the approval of the President, he said. Justice Munib said that the independence of the judicia­ry was mentioned in the Consti­tution of Pakistan in 1973. The executive branch was removed while making the Constitution, but the judicial branch was there. The chief justice asked that when laws were made with the approval of the Pres­ident, did the President have discretionary power or approv­al on advice? The AGP said that the laws made by the Supreme Court in the United States must be consistent with the Congress Acts. The Supreme Court Prac­tice and Procedure Act address­es public concerns. 

Attorney General Mansoor Us­man said that the case is before the full court, so I am keeping the defendant. No one’s rights are being violated by the Su­preme Court Practice and Pro­cedure Act.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa said that my fellow judge has asked an important question, who will be the par­ty affected by this legislation? Who is harmed by this act? 

Giving arguments, Lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim said that the Parliament created a com­mittee of three judges to legis­late the decision of public cases. He said according to Schedule 4 of the Federal Legislative List, the SC makes its own rules of practice and procedure.

He said that I am noting the questions and give the answer later. This application has been brought in the public interest. The three judges cannot sit and interpret the Constitution.

Another petitioner’s lawyer Imtiaz Siddiqui Advocate said that the authority of the Chief Justice of Pakistan has been af­fected, adding that the Parlia­ment cannot do such legislation. 

He said that if the prevail­ing procedure is not adopted, then the law of Parliament will also be wrong, and fundamen­tal rights will be affected by the wrong procedure.