By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday dismissed objections by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Ali Zafar over the composition of a five-judge bench hearing a review petition against the court’s Article 63A judgement.
A five-member larger bench of the court — headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa — heard the review petitions. Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel were the other members of the bench.
A chaotic scene unfolded as lawyers chanted slogans against Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa outside the court. Inside, a PTI activist, Mustafain Kazmi, was rebuked for terming the bench “unconstitutional” and threatening the court.
“Since the PTI is the aggrieved party, how come the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has become involved in the present matter?” Kazmi said.
He further threatened the court, saying, “There are four hundred lawyers outside the court building, and we will see how an adverse decision comes against the party.”
Chief Justice Isa ordered Kazmi’s removal from the court room.
“He even has the audacity to threaten us,” the top judge said. “We will not accept this when insults are hurled to our face.”
Ali Zafar apologized for Kazmi’s conduct and objected to the bench composition, citing the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act.
“After the Act, benches are to be formed as per the majority view of a three-member committee of judges. There is no scope in the law for two members of the committee to form benches,” he argued.
Chief Justice Isa responded that he had no issues with summoning the full court, but after the committee, the need for calling the full court ended. “Now, there will neither be authoritarianism in the country nor institutions.”
The court unanimously rejected Zafar’s objections.
Chief Justice Isa directed the government to arrange a meeting between PTI founder Imran Khan and Zafar, allowing the counsel to consult his client. “We direct the federal government to arrange a meeting between Imran Khan and Ali Zafar,” the top judge said.
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