SC dismisses ruling alliance's plea to form full bench immediately

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the ruling alliance's plea to form the full court immediately to hear the case pertaining to the ruling of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari.

In a short verdict, the court remarked that they would also listen to the counsels for PML-Q president Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). "The court will ponder on the petition for formation of the full court. All parties will be heard on merit," it ruled.

Now the case will be heard by the three-member bench. Earlier, the court had reserved the verdict on the plea for formation of the full bench.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that the judges will again meet to tell whether the full bench will be formed or not.

Earlier, the Supreme Court ruled that only the parliamentary leader had power to issue direction under the Article 63A after the 18th Amendment. Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked that after the 18th Amendment, the party leader was replaced by the parliamentary leader.

Mansoor Awan, counsel for Hamza Shehbaz, contended that as per verdict of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, only the party leader makes all decisions.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that it was a different question how the parliamentary party can issue the direction. "The way to issue the direction can either be a party meeting or a letter," he remarked.

Justice Ejazul Hassan questioned that the deputy speaker had relied on which part of the Supreme Court.

Mansoor Awan, the SCBA president and former presidents demanded formation of the full court bench and hearing of all cases simultaneously.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the court cannot made decision on the saying of the former presidents. "It is mandatory to hear the other side."

Meanwhile, Irfan Qadir, counsel for the deputy speaker, demanded the formation of the full court. "It is a legal issue that what will happen if the stance of the parliamentary party is different from the party leader. It is an important constitutional matter. It is proper time to form the full court to remove all ambiguities," he maintained.

SCBA former president Latif Afridi said that the temperature is very high and teh crisis is deepening. "The entire system is at stake. I request the court to review the interpretation of the Article 63A," he demanded.