The Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided to constitute a larger bench on the Presidential reference regarding the interpretation of Article 63 by the Government.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, while hearing the Presidential Reference and the petition of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said, "We will try to give our decision on the Presidential Reference as soon as possible. Will not
The Chief Justice said that notices were being issued to all the parties. "Political parties should come after careful study of the article. The ruling coalition is not giving notices to the parties. If they want to be represented, they should submit their petitions."
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Muneeb Akhtar heard the petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association and the government reference.
Referring to the announcement of meetings of political parties on the highway constitution, the Chief Justice said, "Try not to hold a meeting in D-Chowk.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked at the request of the Supreme Court Bar Association regarding the barring of members of the Assembly from voting. Not status In the case of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, the court has given such an observation. After joining a political party, it is considered a collective right.
Addressing the Supreme Court bar counsel, the Chief Justice said, "Give arguments on the admissibility of your petition. The court has not yet been persuaded to interfere in the proceedings of the National Assembly." The court only wants to ensure that no one's right to vote is affected. If the bar goes into more detail then Justice Muneeb Akhtar's observation may become an obstacle.
The Chief Justice remarked that what the bar has to do with this process, the bar should talk about public rights.
The Supreme Court directed both the parties to contact the district administration and fix the date and venue of the meetings.
During the hearing, the Attorney General of Pakistan assured the court that "MPs will not be prevented from voting by any crowd and will protest peacefully against the government."
The Chief Justice of Pakistan said, "Decide with the district administration on how far the meetings will be from the parliament. The time and place of the meetings of both the parties should be different so that no clash may take place."
Manzoor Usman, counsel for the Supreme Court Bar Association, at the beginning of the hearing, gave arguments on the delay in convening the session of Parliament. He said that the requisition to convene the parliament was given by the opposition on March 8. According to the law, the Speaker is bound to convene the National Assembly within 14 days.
He said that his term was ending on March 22, but the Speaker of the National Assembly had called a meeting on March 25.
The Chief Justice remarked, "We do not have the authority to look into the reasons for not convening a meeting under Article 184 III."
The Chief Justice said, "We have to see where the violation of the Constitution has taken place. The Supreme Court is the guarantor of the Constitution. It is an internal matter of Parliament and it should be taken up before the Speaker of the National Assembly."
PPP leader and senior lawyer Farooq H Naik came to the rostrum and said, "This is a violation of the constitution which is subject to Article 6. Let's see what Article 6 says."
Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan said, "Let Article 6 be implemented first."
The Chief Justice of Pakistan also smiled at this statement of the Attorney General and proceeded with the court proceedings.
The Chief Justice remarked that political parties should follow the procedure laid down in the constitution and law.
"Political parties should demonstrate their power inside the parliament and also tell their workers that the procedure laid down in the constitution and law will be followed. What happened in Sindh House was unfortunate, it has affected the right of MPs to vote.
The Supreme Court disposed of the petition of the Supreme Court bar on the assurance of the Attorney General not to prevent the members of Parliament from voting through the crowd.
The apex court directed all the parties to fix the date and venue of the meetings with the district administration.
The hearing on the presidential reference regarding the interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution was adjourned till March 24.
