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Full court meeting attended by all judges, including Justice Mansoor Shah
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
HE newly-appointed Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi chaired his first full court meeting on Monday to address case pendency and improve judicial effi-
ciency. According to a statement issued by the Supreme Court, the meeting included all Supreme Court judges, with senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah participating via video link from Saudi Arabia, where he is performing Umrah. The meeting aimed to evaluate the Supreme Court’s performance in managing and resolving cases, with a focus on reducing backlog and enhancing efficiency. The SC registrar presented an overview of the current caseload and outlined steps for timely case resolutions, revealing that
59,191 cases are pending. The registrar introduced a new one-month plan based on the Case Management Plan 2023, prepared by Justice Shah. “The plan includes setting clear standards and utilizing information technology to manage all categories of cases effectively,” the statement noted. During the meeting, judges reviewed the Case Management Plan and discussed various strategies to meet their targets. It was decided that criminal and civil cases would be assigned to specialized two- and three-member benches to expedite resolution. The statement further indicated that judges provided valuable insights and recommendations for improving the system, demonstrating their commitment to tackling the backlog. Justice Shah also proposed additional strategies aimed at reducing the backlog and enhancing procedural efficiency, with plans
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set for one month, three months, and six months. At the meeting’s conclusion, the Chief Justice expressed gratitude to all judges for their commitment to fully implementing the Case Management Plan and achieving the established targets. Progress will be assessed in the next Full Court meeting scheduled for December 2, 2024. CJP Afridi was sworn in as Pakistan’s 30th Chief Justice on October 26, succeeding Justice Qazi Faez Isa. He is the first Chief Justice appointed by a parliamentary committee consisting of both government and opposition members, following the recent passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. On his first day in office, Chief Justice Afridi reconstituted the SC Practice and Procedure Committee, reinstating Justice Munib Akhtar in the three-member panel responsible for case allocation and bench formation.
PM Shehbaz to undertake two-day visit to Saudi Arabia to attend Future Investment Initiative
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the 8th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), taking place in Riyadh from October 29 to 30, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The FII serves as a vital platform for nations to showcase their economic potential, attract foreign investment, and engage in discussions aimed at fostering a sustainable future. This year’s theme, “Infinite
CJP Afridi expresses gratitude for judges’ insights concerning cases’ backlog
Zuberi files petition in SC against 26th Constitutional Amendment ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Abid Zuberi also filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday challenging 26th Constitutional Amendment. In his petition, ex-SCBA president requested the court to declare 26th Constitutional Amendment as illegal. He further prayed the court to declare this amendment as against basic rights and basic structure of the Constitution. The lawyer appealed the court to halt meeting of Judicial Commission for appointment of new judges. In his petition, the petitioner said that
nomic, energy, and defense sectors. The prime minister is also anticipated to engage with other leaders and entrepreneurs at the FII conference. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing brotherly relationship, cooperating in various fields, including culture, economy, trade, and defense. Earlier this month, the two countries signed 27 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $2.2 billion across multiple sectors during the visit of Saudi Minister for Investment Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Faleh to Islamabad. In April, PM Shehbaz made his first official visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office, where he and Crown Prince Salman agreed to expedite the initial phase of a planned $5 billion Saudi investment package for Pakistan. This commitment underscored Saudi Arabia’s support for Pakistan’s economy and its people. During a visit from a Saudi delegation in May, PM Shehbaz assured investors of favorable conditions and ease of doing business under the Special Investment and Facilitation Council (SIFC). The two nations not only maintain strong bilateral ties but have also provided crucial support to each other during economic challenges.
A special session of political committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) released a declaration on Monday in which it decided to formally join the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). “It is unanimously decided that members of PTI from both houses would be nominated to join the JCP,” said the declaration. In the special meeting of political committee, a detailed briefing was given about the letter of the NA speaker to nominate two member from opposition for JCP, say sources. The JCP would nominate the judges for high courts (HCs), Supreme Court (SC) and Federal Sharia Court. Commission would keep an eye on the working of judges and submit the annual reports of the performance, the briefing continued. The 13-member JCP would also be responsible to form the benches in the SC and HCs and a simple majority of commission members would be needed to make decisions in the JCP.
ing court orders without an ECP notification, there could be numerous conflicting decisions. We will not act on the court’s directive; we will await the ECP’s notification.” Sadiq made it clear that while he respects court orders, he will not take action without the ECP’s official communication. His comments highlight ongoing tensions regarding party loyalty and the implications of shifting allegiances within the National Assembly. In a significant ruling in July, the Supreme Court allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to claim reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the national and provincial assemblies, bolstering the party’s legislative position. Sadiq remarked, “The court indicated that PTI could change party affiliation after a period of 15 days, which allowed members to join the Sunni Ittehad Council, effectively permitting floor crossing.” He emphasized that had PTI members not joined the SIC, the results could have been entirely different. “Instead, the court’s decision effectively rewrote parts of
the Constitution by granting them an extension,” he said. Sadiq argued that the recent constitutional amendments limit the Supreme Court’s power over such matters. He noted, “If the court claims we cannot make decisions because of backdated changes, we could similarly argue that their decision was also backdated.” When asked whether he favors the ECP over the Supreme Court, Sadiq confirmed his inclination to await the ECP’s directives on parliamentary matters. “Once we have the ECP’s notification, we will deliberate and make our decisions accordingly,” he added. Furthermore, Sadiq stated that the Supreme Court lacks the authority to challenge the recently enacted 26th constitutional amendment, as doing so would conflict with the Constitution itself. Earlier this week, a petition was submitted to the Supreme Court seeking to annul the 26th Amendment, calling for a judicial inquiry into whether the two-thirds majority was legitimately achieved.
Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow,” will focus on global investments addressing key issues such as artificial intelligence, robotics, education, energy, finance, healthcare, and sustainability. PM Shehbaz will be accompanied by key cabinet ministers and is expected to hold significant bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, along with other senior Saudi officials. Discussions will center on the economic and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, exploring cooperation in the eco-
PTI formally decides to be part of Judicial Commission of Pakistan
Govt decides to retain special committee ahead of 27th Amendment
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NA Speaker defies court orders on reserved seats, calls for ECP notification ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq declared on Monday that no actions regarding reserved seats will be taken until the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issues an official notification. He expressed his refusal to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders concerning the reserved seats issue. In an interview with a private television channel, Sadiq raised concerns about recent party shifts among members, particularly those joining the Sunni Ittehad Council, questioning the legitimacy of their retroactive affiliations. He pointed out the recent amendments to election laws, suggesting that Parliament should have similar authority to amend the Constitution as the Supreme Court. “It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to notify the members,” Sadiq stated. “If we start follow-
constitutional amendments cannot be passed forcefully. He further said that current Parliament still incomplete and many questions arising over legal status of the current parliament. He said that appointment of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) through a parliamentary committee is direct inference. Formation of constitutional benches is equal to functioning of Supreme Court. In his appeal, Abid Zuberi and six other lawyers filed petition against the federation and provinces. It is necessary to mention here that earlier Abid Zuberi withdraw his petition challenging 26th constitutional amendment.
ISLAMABAD
Federal government on Monday dropped a hint over its plan to move 27th Constitutional Amendment in the Parliament and it has decided to retain the special parliamentary committee, which mulled before the passage of the 26th Amendment ahead of next task of bringing another amendment. According to parliamentary officials, the final decision about the proposed amendment would be taken by the special parliamentary committee. The committee being headed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has the representation of all political parties. According to sources, the government and the PPP would consult on the proposed 27th amendment during the parliamentary session. The government sources revealed that no any specific time frame had been fixed for the 27th amendment. “The proposed amendment will be presented by the unanimous approval from all political parties,” added the government sources.
Punjab issues emergency alert as smog shrouds Lahore LAHORE
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The Punjab government has declared an emergency alert for Lahore as the city grapples with hazardous air quality due to smog drifting from neighboring regions, including Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb urged residents to take precautions, advising the use of masks and keeping windows and doors closed against the incoming pollution. Minister Aurangzeb highlighted that the city’s air quality index (AQI) recently dropped from a high of 800 to 191 as winds calmed, but the air remains unsafe, especially for children and individuals with heart or respiratory conditions. The minister attributed the rising pollution levels to crop-burning activities in bordering Indian areas, noting that wind patterns have further exacerbated Lahore’s smog crisis.
PTI seeks contempt proceedings in SC against ECP over reserved seats ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The PTI filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court on Monday against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to implement the court’s July 12 order regarding reserved seats. On July 12, a 13-judge full bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the opposition PTI was entitled to reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in both national and provincial assemblies. This decision significantly impacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition and positioned the PTI as a potential majority party in Parliament. The Supreme Court also recognized the PTI as a parliamentary party, noting that 39 of the 80 MNAs listed by the ECP as PTI
candidates were indeed affiliated with the party. The remaining 41 independents must submit properly signed and notarized statements within 15 days, clarifying their political affiliations during the February 8 elections. Despite various developments and warnings from the apex court, the ECP has yet to implement the ruling. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja submitted the petition, naming the chief election commissioner and provincial election commissioners as respondents. He asserted that the court’s ruling, along with two subsequent clarifications, clearly established the PTI’s entitlement to the reserved seats. Raja emphasized that the ECP’s inaction on the ruling amounted to a deliberate failure to comply, making the chief election commissioner and the four ECP members subject
to contempt proceedings. He requested the initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the ECP and urged it to adhere to the July 12 decision. In a related development, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq stated he would not comply with the court’s order regarding the reserved seats, indicating he would wait for the ECP to provide guidance before taking any action. “It is the Election Commission’s responsibility to notify members,” he said, adding that while he would acknowledge court orders, he would defer action until the ECP issued a notification. Furthermore, former Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa remarked last week that the ruling’s implementation was not obligatory, as appeals against it remained unresolved.
“Since the appeals were not finally decided, there was no binding decision under Article 189 of the Constitution, nor could
contempt proceedings be initiated under Article 204 for non-compliance with the court’s order,” he stated.