Says govt’s proposal to reassess law ‘very good idea’
An eight-member bench of the Supreme Court indefinitely adjourned proceedings against the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 on Thursday after the government sought time to review the law.
Heading the bench, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial “welcomed” the federal government’s proposal to reassess the law as “a very good idea”.
Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan appearing before the larger bench stated that there is an overlap in some of the provisions of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 and SC (Rules and procedures) Bill 2023, adding that the government intended to harmonise them. He also referred to those provisions.
“There is some contradiction between the SC (Rules and procedures) Bill 2023 and the revisional jurisdiction extension law,” the AGP said.
“There should be harmony in the laws,” the CJ agreed, adding that the SC should be consulted before laws related to the working of its administration are made.
“Will the government take the matter back to the parliament,” Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi inquired.
AGP Awan proposed that the apex court may refer the issue to the parliament for review, which was dismissed by the CJ.
“We will not do that,” he said, adding that the bench would consult on the matter.
