Court reserves verdict on Practice and Procedure Act 2023

The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its decision on petitions that challenge the 2023 SC (Practice and Procedure) Act, which restricts the authority of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa led the full-court bench consisting of Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarrat Hilali are hearing the case.

“We will discuss amongst ourselves [now]. If there is a consensus, then we will announce it, otherwise, the decision will be reserved,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said at the end of today’s hearing.

During the hearing, the CJP emphasised the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship between the Parliament and the SC.

“Do not pit the Parliament and Supreme Court against each other,” he remarked, insisting on the idea of “live and let live”.

“Why do we see each other’s institutions negatively? Why can’t it be said that one institution legislated for the betterment of another?” CJP Isa questioned.

All the petitioners, including all political parties, concluded their arguments in today’s hearing. The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan, also gave his arguments today.