President Arif Alvi has returned the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure bill to the Parliament for reconsideration, Aaj News has learnt Saturday.

The bill was sent back to parliament under article 75 of the constitution.

The President said that the bill prima-facie travels beyond the competence of the parliament and can be assailed as colourable legislation.

Both houses of the parliament passed the bill last month.

PTI leader Shehzad Wasim had termed the bill as an attack on the judiciary and an attempt to divide the court.

Barrister Ali Zafar said that the change cannot be made through a bill and requires a constitutional amendment.

PTI had announced that it would oppose the bill. The decision was made in the party’s parliamentary meeting chaired by the leader of the opposition in the Senate Shehzad Wasim on Thursday.

Earlier, the National Assembly passed the bill that cuts the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s powers to form benches and take suo motu notices.

The bill was passed by a simple majority after the Pakistan People’s Party agreed to withdraw its proposed amendments or changes.

The bill had been introduced on Tuesday after being approved by the cabinet. It had been sent for further deliberation to a standing committee right after being tabled.

This is a significant move as Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial achieves superannuation and leaves the Supreme Court of Pakistan on September 16. Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be sworn in as chief justice of Pakistan on September 17.