Constitution is sacred and it’s mandatory, not option, to obey it: CJP

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, while hearing the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) reserved seats case, remarked that the constitution is sacred and it is mandatory, not option, to obey it.

Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the constitution is not being implemented. “There should be no impression that the court is also in collusion with all. Being the Supreme Court, we have hidden our heads in sand,” he observed.

Justice Ayesha Malik observed that reserved seats cannot be granted by ignoring the proportional representation rule. “What will other parties gain if the PTI loses or wins the case?”

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah questioned that on which basis the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared the candidates belonging to a political party as independent.

Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked that a separate law was formulated to give the reserved seats to the PTI candidates. “The case will take a new turn if the ECP confirms the matter,” he observed.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel remarked that the ECP had no power to declared the parliamentarians as independent. “I am of the opinion that the person who changes the party after showing his party affiliation will stand disqualified. The Article 63A will be applicable to the person who changes the party after taking the ticket. No candidate has the right to move to another party after giving a declaration of a party,” he observed.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing until June 27.