21st amendment: Formulate propositions, SC tells challengers

Top court could not take up plea to revoke stay on militants’ execution

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Nasirul Mulk has told all the petitioners challenging the 21st constitutional amendment to formulate their propositions and submit them in the Supreme Court by Saturday.

A full court reference of the apex court resumed hearing of petitions against the 18th and 21st amendments on Wednesday.

The top court, however, could not take up the federation’s plea to revoke the April 16 verdict suspending the execution of six men convicted of terrorism, as Justice Dost Muhammad was absent because of his uncle’s death.

Akram Sheikh, counsel for Nadeem Ahmed, argued that after the 19th amendment his client’s grievances had been addressed and his petition against the 18th amendment had become “infructuous” (unfruitful). CJP Nasir then advised Sheikh to withdraw the petition.

Justice Jawwad said the 18th amendment had implications, to which the CJP said those who have challenged the amendment should make up their mind whether or not they would like to pursue their case.

Regarding those who had filed petitions against the 21st amendment, Nasir told them to formulate their propositions and submit them in court by Saturday.

Appointment of judges

Asma Jahangir, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), informed the court that the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the SCBA had convened a meeting in the first week of May to come up with a formula on the appointment of judges. She asked the court to adjourn the case until that time.

However, CJP Nasir told her to convene the meeting on Friday and submit the participants’ recommendations in court during Monday’s hearing of the case.

Asma informed the court that the PBC vice-chairman was abroad and the SCBA president was indisposed. However, the CJP adjourned the case until April 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2015.