CJP has become controversial, says Marriyum
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday demanded that Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial must step down as his position has become controversial, especially after Justice Athar Minallah’s note in the Punjab polls case.
The statement comes after Justice Minallah maintained that the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice over the delay in the announcement of provincial assembly elections was dismissed by a majority 4-3 ruling.
“Justice Athar Minullah has made a major decision today. Following this decision, the majority of judges have reached a conclusion. The decision made by Justice Minullah raises questions about the judicial process,” Marriyum Aurangzeb said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. She said that CJP’s suo motu notice has already been dismissed with 4-3 vote. However, she added that a three-member bench was formed on petition that was already “dismissed”. The federal minister stated that the illegal use of powers and arbitrary interpretation of the Constitution cannot be accepted. “When there was no petition, questions arise as to why the bench was formed and why a decision was made,” she said. The information minister said that the four judges on the bench had urged to make a full court bench, adding that the political parties too were in favour of constituting a full bench so the people could accept the decision.
“Political parties do not shy away from elections, but this is no longer just an election issue. It has become a matter of ‘bench fixing’,” she added.
Marriyum wondered what the need for “judicial facilitation” was and questioned why the judges distanced themselves from the issue.
