Election tribunal case: PTI objects CJ's inclusion on larger bench

CJ Isa dismisses objection, stating current bench would proceed with the hearing

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer has raised objections to the inclusion of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in the larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the election tribunal case.

A five-member larger bench, headed by the CJ, convened to hear the Election Commission of Pakistan's appeal against the formation of election tribunals by the Lahore High Court.

Salman Akram Raja's lawyer, Hamid Khan, filed a request for adjournment, while PTI's lawyer, Niazullah Niazi, objected to the chief justice's inclusion in the bench, arguing that his client believes the top judge should not be part of the bench.

The CJ dismissed the objection, stating that the current bench would proceed with the hearing.

"Your objection has been noted. Please take your seat," the CJ said. "This matter is between the Election Commission and the Chief Justice. Why does a private individual have such an interest in this case?"

Last month, a two-member Supreme Court bench referred a plea about election tribunals to the Practice and Procedure Committee for the formation of a larger bench and sought record of the correspondence between the four high courts and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Following this The ECP challenged the appointment of eight election tribunals by the LHC, declaring its decision to boycott the proceedings of these “unconstitutional” tribunals.