CJP constitutes larger bench for Bhutto case
The president had written a letter to the chief justice on Saturday to resume hearing of the reference, which has been pending before the court since June, at the earliest possible date.
In view of the importance of the reference, senior advocates Ali Ahmed Kurd, Tariq Mehmood, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, Qazi Muhammad Ashraf, Makhdoom Ali Khan, SM Zafar, Aitzaz Ahsan, Zahoorul Haq and Abdul Latif Afridi were appointed as amicus curiae for the case.
Three judges of the apex court who were part of the larger bench namely Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui and Justice Ghulam Rabbani have retired.
The larger bench includes Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Nasir ul Mulk, Justice Jawwad S. Khawja, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Tariq Parvez, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani and Justice Amir Hani Muslim that will take up the presidential reference sent to the apex court under Article 186.
The counsels for the parties as well as amicus curiae have been requested to ensure their presence for the case as it is likely to proceed on a day-to-day basis from December 12 to 16 as the court will break for winter vacations from December 19 to 31.
Notices to all concerned including the incumbent president of Supreme Court Bar Association have been issued.
This case was earlier fixed before the court on various dates during April to June. On April 21, a three-Judge bench headed by the chief justice decided to constitute a larger bench.
On the last date of hearing, June 29, the matter was adjourned by the larger bench with the observation that the case would begin subject to availability of the bench.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2011.
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How long the Graveyard will rule the livings ... Hum Zinda Qoam Hain.. i loved ZAB but i know this is political move to take political advantage over change of time. knwoing we are emotional nation ... Stop playing with peoples mind.
I do not think this whole exercise of revisiting the case will produce anything tangible. Just the wastage of time and resources..
@Mirza: Perhaps someone needs to keep on reminding the CJ of his duties. May be the president should write another letter to that end.
Why did it take the president's letter to the SC to re-start the hearings? This is a simple case with no new trial, no witnesses, no cross examination and no opposing lawyers. SC only has to answer a few questions about the fairness of the decision. Let us hope that Asghar Khan's case is also taken up by the independent court after over decades.