Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Senior Supreme Court judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday also took issue with the proposed Federal Constitutional Court, noting that if faced with a difficult issue, they would refer it to the Federal Constitutional Court.
Justice Shah was hearing a case related to promotion of Dr. Azam Ali, an officer attached to the Punjab Livestock Department. The case was heard by a two-judge bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Abbasi.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that his client had been overlooked while junior officers were being promoted. Justice Shah asked the counsel to show through documents that junior officers had indeed been promoted while the petitioner was ignored.
The judge then said: “If there is a very difficult question, we will send it to the Federal Constitutional Court – we are just helpless people here anyway.” The courtroom erupted in laughter at his remarks. The Supreme Court later dismissed the petition.
Even before the approval of the 27th constitutional amendment, speculation has begun as to where the Federal Constitutional Court – proposed to be formed under the amendment package – will be established.
Members of a five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on November 7 also made comments and exchanged interesting remarks regarding the proposed amendment that the ruling PML-N will soon introduce in Parliament – without ever mentioning it.
The CB headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, heard a case related to civil service rules
During the hearing, when Judge Khan asked if the case could be concluded that day, lawyer Faisal Siddiqi requested that it be decided quickly because he did not want to argue it in the Federal Sharia Court building where the new court is speculated to be set up.
