ISLAMABAD   -   Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial Tuesday constituted a five-member larger bench for hearing the Presidential Reference on the interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution. The bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel would hear the reference tomorrow.

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi on Monday last had filed the reference under Article 186 of the Constitution seeking opinion on the Article 63A regarding floor crossing in the parliament.

The SC written order stated that the two matters (SCBA petition and Reference) would be heard together. “For this purpose, a notice is issued to the SCBA. Notices are also issued in relation to the Reference to the political parties who are before us in terms of our previous order”.

A special bench of the apex court - comprising CJP Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Munib Akhtar on March 21 had heard the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) petition, seeking direction to all state functionaries to act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law considering the no-trust vote against the premier.

SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon had filed the petition regarding ‘restraining political parties from holding public meetings in Islamabad before voting on the no-confidence motion’.