Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday adjourned a hearing on a set of petitions against the Supreme Court (Practice & Procedure) Act 2023, aimed at limiting the powers of the head of the apex court.

The hearing was adjourned after Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial that the government has decided to review the bill as certain provisions within the law exhibit overlapping aspects.

The hearing was conducted by an eight-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.

On May 29, during the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) review petition with regard to elections in Punjab, Mansoor Awan told the apex court that President Arif Alvi has passed the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023.

“The president has signed the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill, 2023. Under the new law, a larger bench will hear review petitions,” he told the three judges bench hearing the petition.

The bill has been the center of debate since it was first presented, as it led to speculation that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be able to appeal against his disqualification.