Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the courts work round the clock and no one needs to raise finger on court proceedings.

A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Omar Ata Bandial heard the presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63A.

CJ Bandial during today’s hearing remarked that it was the courts’ responsibility to protect the Constitution and declared that deviation from the Constitution was a violation.

He further remarked that it doesn’t matter what is going on on social media, adding that they will continue to do their job despite being abused for the protection of the constitution.

The CJP questioned the point of the court’s intervention in political crises if 10,000 to 15,000 people are eventually going to gather and start criticising their judgments and not accept them. “Why should we announce judgements?”

“ National leaders should defend the court ruling, the CJ added.

During the hearing the Advocate General Islamabad argued that vote is the trust of the party, conscience cannot be sold by paying money, adding that the situation in Punjab Assembly was in front of everyone.

“Parliament hasn’t included lifelong disqualification in Article 63A,” Justice Mandokhel remarked, asking if Parliament deliberately avoided including the lifelong disqualification in Article 63A or by mistake.

Justice Mandokhel noted that half of the people would comply with the apex court’s order and half won’t as some of them favour lifelong disqualification and some are against it.