Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Monday indefinitely adjourned the hearing of Election Commission of Pakistan’s petition asking the top court to revisit its April 4 order of holding polls to the Punjab Assembly on May 14 after Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan said a new law pertaining to review of judgments had come into effect. The hearing — which was conducted by a three-member bench comprising the CJP, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — was put off shortly after it commenced.
During the hearing, the AGP raised objections to the bench, highlighting that the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill 2023 had become law after receiving the president’s assent. He also submitted a notification, signed by the president, on the same in court.
The notification says: “The Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023 is assented to, as advised by the prime minister.”
Subsequently, CJP Bandial said the new law would be discussed during a hearing on Thursday (June 1) pertaining to the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023.
The law, passed by both the Senate and National Assembly earlier this month, states that it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for a “meaningful review” of the apex court’s judgements and orders in the exercise of the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, as described in Article 184 of the Constitution.
