ISLAMABAD: Head of the Constitutional Reforms Committee Raza Rabbani is to appear before a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court as it resumes hearing petitions challenging certain provisions of the 18th amendment to defend its fate.
The larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will resume hearing of the 18th amendment case on Monday.
The chief justice had earlier adjourned the hearing because of Eid holidays and some personal engagements of the judges on the bench. During the last hearing, Ahmad Raza Qasuri and Salman Raja had concluded their arguments in defence of the amendment and the chief justice had asked the attorney-general about the availability of Raza Rabbani.
After 18th amendment case, another important case will be heard by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani in which Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq is to submit the law minister’s summary which was sent to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani for reopening the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The third important case to be heard by the same bench is the Sialkot lynching case.
Another important case concerning the “missing persons” will be heard by Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday.
According to the fresh ‘cause list’ issued by the Supreme Court on Saturday, next week is not just chock full of engagements but also important because during the week the apex court will hear several other important cases.
In a related development, security in the Supreme Court has been beefed up, especially in Courtroom No 1, where the 17-member larger bench will recommence proceedings of petitions challenging the 18th constitutional amendment which would be regulated by passes.
Entry into the court building will be allowed after spot checking and frisking and searching of bags and purses. Cell phones are not allowed inside the courtroom.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2010.
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