Constitutional bench takes up pending cases today

ISLAMABAD: The constitutional bench established under the 26 Amendment will today (Thursday) hear the cases pending with the Supreme Court for years.

According to cause list issued for November 14 and 15, a six-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, will hear approximately 34 cases.

Of these cases, the bench will hear 18 cases today, while the remaining 16 cases would be heard on November 15.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan are the other bench members.

The constitutional bench will hear cases related to environmental issues of which one cases has been pending with the apex court since 1993. The bench will also take up a review petition filed by Riaz Hanif Rai Advocate against the dismissal of a case filed against the appointment of Justice Qazi Faez Isa as Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court.

The bench will also take up a plea seeking rescheduling of 2024 elections as it was prayed before the court that the elections should be held between February and March. Similarly, the constitutional bench will also take up cases related to pleas seeking disqualification of lawmakers, possessing business and assets abroad besides taking up cases related to pleas seeking ban on government servants for contracting marriages with foreign nationals as well a suo motu case taken up by former chief justice Qazi Faez Isa regarding use of Conventional Center, Islamabad for private purposes.

The meeting was attended by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar (attended telephonically from Karachi).

During the meeting, the Registrar’s Office had apprised the Committee of the pending cases that fall within the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Bench.

The Committee resolved that priority shall be accorded to the oldest cases.

In view of unavailability of Justice Ayesha A. Malik on November 14 and 15, 2024, it was resolved that a bench comprising all available Judges shall be constituted to proceed with cases on these dates.