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TENSION FLARES UP AS CJP REJECTS PTI’S OBJECTION AGAINST 63-A BENCH FORMATION Thursday, 3 October, 2024 I 281 Rabi ul Awwal, 1446
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Advocate Tayyab Mustafain Kazmi tells court 500 PTI lawyers ready to prevent ruling against party
Barrister Ali Zafar argues PTI was not given a prior notice, but Chief Justice rejected the claim as baseless
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ISLAMABAD
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ENSIONS flared in the Supreme Court during hearing of the Article 63A verdict review petition when PTI lawyer threatened the five-member larger bench while Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa rejected objections against the bench formed to hear the review petition. The incident occurred when one of the PTI’s counsels, Tayyab Mustafain Kazmi, told the court that 500 PTI lawyers were standing outside, ready to prevent any ruling against the party. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, presiding over the bench, swiftly responded by calling for police to maintain order. He firmly rejected the attempt to intimidate the court, stating, “Do you want institutions to be run through threats? My only fault is that I have always shown patience.” The hearing, which was part of the review petition on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 63A, saw heightened emotions as Kazmi criticised the bench’s legality and issued strong remarks against the judiciary. Chief Justice Isa remained resolute despite his warnings, asserting that the court would not tolerate threats or disrespect. “You cannot run the courts through intimidation. We will continue with the proceedings, no matter how much opposition we face,” the Chief Justice added, signalling that the judiciary would uphold its independence. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, also part of the bench, expressed concern over the growing trend of targeting judges when decisions do not favour
specific parties. “This behaviour is unacceptable. We are here for the integrity of the institution, not for money or power. The judiciary must remain independent,” he said. Kazmi’s outburst led to a temporary adjournment, and he eventually left the On the other hand, the Chief Justice Isa rejected PTI’s objections as baseless against the bench formed to hear the review petition. The objections were raised during the case’s hearing on Wednesday, where the PTI argued that the bench had been constituted improperly, but the Chief Justice firmly dismissed these claims. PTI’s legal counsel, Barrister Ali Zafar, argued that the bench’s formation did not follow proper legal procedures and that the party had not been notified adequately in advance about the hearing. Zafar contended that this lack of no-
tice compromised the fairness of the proceedings and demanded that the bench be reconstituted according to legal norms. Chief Justice Isa swiftly rejected PTI’s objections as baseless. He clarified that the bench’s formation was in full compliance with judicial procedures, stating, “We all agreed as a court to reject the objections raised against the bench’s legality.” The Chief Justice reiterated that the decision was unanimous among the judges. The hearing turned tense when PTI lawyer Tayyab Mustafain Kazmi threatened the court by claiming that hundreds of PTI lawyers were prepared to prevent an unfavourable ruling. Chief Justice Isa responded sternly, questioning whether Kazmi expected the country’s institutions to be governed by threats. “We will continue with these proceedings regardless of the pressure,”
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the Chief Justice stated, making it clear that the judiciary operates independently. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail added that there is a worrying trend of criticising the judiciary when rulings do not favour certain political parties. “Judges are not here to be influenced by threats or public pressure,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of judicial independence in Pakistan’s democracy. Despite the heated exchanges, Chief Justice Isa instructed Barrister Ali Zafar to proceed with his arguments. PTI’s objection to the bench formation was dismissed, and the hearing continued. The court reaffirmed that the judiciary would not be influenced by external pressures and would continue its work impartially. The case revolves around PTI’s review of the Supreme Court’s earlier interpretation of Article 63A, which deals with disqualifying lawmakers who defy party policies. The decision on this matter holds significant implications for political discipline within Pakistan’s party system, making the ongoing case a focal point of political interest.
Asserts matter can be settled peacefully if amendments finalised before October 25 ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to constitutional amendments, stating the proposed amendments can be made ‘peacefully’ if finalised before October 25. In a session with reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday, Bilawal was asked about his stance on former prime minister Imran Khan’s military trial. He replied, “We need to assess the evidence first; after all, we have the authority to grant a presidential pardon.” He maintained that the PPP stands against the death penalty. When questioned about the proposed constitu-
tional amendments and their deadline of October 25, he stated, “If the amendments are made before October 25, the matter can be settled peacefully. While they can be done later, it may lead to confrontational situations.” He further asserted that the PPP would not abandon the matter concerning the constitutional court, vowing to see it through to completion. “We have already faced significant delays; our demands date back to 2006 and are part of our manifesto,” he added. Bilawal also criticised the judiciary’s timing regarding certain actions, questioning why the timing of the injunction on reserved seats was not being scrutinised. He pointed out that the judiciary’s four-page clarification issued on September 14, the day of a parliamentary session, raised questions about the judicial
ISLAMABAD
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Following the directive of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, PTI lawyers staged a protest outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday. In response to the protest, the Red Zone in Islamabad was sealed off, and containers were placed on the roads, leading to long queues of vehicles on the Express Highway and causing significant disruptions for commuters heading to offices and educational institutions. Despite the obstacles, PTI lawyers made their way to the Supreme Court, where a heavy police presence was deployed to maintain order. The lawyers’ rally from the Islamabad High Court arrived at the Supreme Court, where they chanted anti-judiciary slogans. Barrister Gohar addressed the media outside the Supreme Court, stating, “It is the Supreme Court’s duty to protect the rights of the public. Whenever attempts are made to divide the judiciary, lawyers have taken to the streets. The proposed constitutional amendment is unconstitutional, and the entire country has been turned into a ‘Containeristan’.”
Cases of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah-led bench-II delisted ISLAMABAD
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All the cases of Bench-II, headed by Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, were delisted on Wednesday following unavailability of judges. According to the apex court’s roster, the bench-II, headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and comprising three-member bench Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, had to hear the cases as per routine. Yesterday, Justice Mansoor had refused to attend the judges’ committee meeting convened by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice
Bilawal reaffirms PPP’s commitment to constitutional amendments g
PTI lawyers stage protest outside Supreme Court
timing. He mentioned that the head of the constitutional court would serve a three-year term and expressed his opposition to the establishment of military courts, emphasising that the justification for the federal constitutional court lies in the Supreme Court’s historical precedents. On the Karachi unrest case, which has been ongoing since 2011, Bilawal noted that the judiciary had affected the local government system under the pretext of this case, questioning whether unrest existed only in Karachi, as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also face similar issues. He further criticised the political manoeuvring regarding the selection of the next Army Chief, suggesting that events on May 9 were bordering on insurrection. He warned that if constitutional amendments are not enacted, the resulting situation might spiral beyond anyone’s control, noting that the 18th Amendment had previously blocked the path to martial law.
Qazi Faez Isa to form the bench to hear the review plea filed in the case of interpretation of Article 63-A of the constitution. At the outset of the case’s hearing yesterday, the chief justice said that initially he had requested Justice Munib Akhtar to join the bench. “But when he refused. I opted for Justice Mansoor. I requested him to join us. We waited for him. But he refused to attend the committee meeting.” “I had been left with no other option. I did not want to disturb other benches. So Justice Naeem Afghan was requested to join, which he accepted,” Justice Isa elaborated.
KP CM Gandapur vows peaceful protest, criticises federal govt’s ‘tactics’ ISLAMABAD
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday criticised the federal government and its allies, asserting that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and stressing that their goal is not confrontation or harm. He also alleged that the government is trying to weaken PTI under the pretext of constitutional amendments, actions which he said the public sees as unjust. His comments came as the KP government finalises plans for a large-scale PTI protest set for October 4 in Islamabad. In a statement released on Wednesday, Gandapur held a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members from all four regions of KP to discuss preparations for the upcoming protest. Strategies were laid out to ensure maximum participation, and party leaders were tasked with mobilising supporters from across the province. The chief minister emphasised the importance of discipline during the protest and urged party leaders to ensure that KP convoys arrive in an organised manner, with designated leaders in charge.
Nawaz and Maryam launch Rs700bn housing project, distribute cheques
Malaysian PM arrives to a red carpet welcome
ISLAMABAD
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President PML-N Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif distributed cheques at the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” housing loan program ceremony at the Expo Centre on Wednesday. Cheques were given to beneficiaries who were declared eligible for the scheme. A documentary outlining the housing loan project was presented at the event. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif thanked Nawaz Sharif for attending the ceremony and acknowledged his role in the initiative. She stated that the vision behind the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” program belonged to Nawaz Sharif and emphasized the importance of his involvement in all key development projects. “The idea of Pakistan’s development started with Nawaz Sharif in the 1980s, and the housing scheme is part of that vision,” she said. Maryam further explained that Nawaz Sharif regularly follows up on the program’s progress and advises her to focus on serving the people. The Chief Minister highlighted that the first installment of loans was being issued just one and a half months after the project was launched. She said the program, worth
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday warmly received Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is undertaking a threeday official visit to Pakistan. Upon his arrival at the airport, children clad in traditional attire presented bouquets to the Malaysian Premier. He was also given a static guard of honour while 21-
guns boomed in the background as gesture of warm welcome. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and members of the federal cabinet were also present to welcome the visiting dignitary. The Malaysian prime minister is accompanied by a high level delegation. During his stay, he will hold meetings with the leadership of Pakistan. Premier Anwar Ibrahim is undertaking the official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
number of loans as the program progresses. She expressed confidence in the public’s ability to repay the loans, stating that no collateral would be required. The Chief Minister took the opportunity to criticize those engaged in destructive activities, saying that some individuals are focused on causing unrest rather than contributing to national progress. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to moving forward with development projects despite these challenges.
“We are working day and night for the people’s welfare, but unfortunately, there are those who are trying to create chaos. We will not allow this to disrupt our efforts,” she said. In attendance at the ceremony were Senator Pervez Rashid, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari, and other government officials and ministers, including MNA Saif-ul-Malook Khokhar and Provincial Ministers Faisal Khokhar, Zeeshan Rafique, and Bilal Yasin.
ISLAMABAD
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Rs. 700 billion, aims to construct 500,000 houses over the next five years. Five lakh applications were received, and the government decided to approve loans for all applicants. She added that loans would be provided to landowners with plots ranging from one to five marlas in cities and one to ten marlas in rural areas. The conditions for obtaining a loan were eased, requiring only identity cards and property ownership documents. The loan repayment installment has been
capped at Rs. 14,000 per month with zero interest, with beneficiaries expected to repay the loan in nine years. “We are committed to ensuring that the people benefit from this program without any financial burden. The loans will be transparent, with no hidden charges,” she said, adding that the first loan installment is due after a three-month grace period. Maryam also addressed other aspects of the scheme, including standardized house designs and the potential to increase the