The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench revoked on Tuesday the orders issued by senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on January 13 and 16 while hearing the customs regulator duty case.

The court has also ordered the record of the contempt of court case against SC Additional Registrar Nazar Abbas to be merged with the customs duty case.

In the hearing of the case in the Supreme Court, the Attorney General informed that the federal government would challenge the decision due to its “unconstitutional nature.”

Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar remarked that Justice Shah had ordered the customs duty case to be placed before his bench, questioning whether they could proceed with the case in light of this order.

Justice Jamal Mandokhail commented that concerns about judicial independence are not limited to a few; rather, everyone should be mindful. He emphasized that those who work must do so properly, questioning what calamity has occurred. He noted that “this is also a court, and life holds no guarantees.”

He reminded that the Supreme Court and other courts must remain intact, urging that they should take care of their institutions and assuring that there is no need for anyone to worry; this institution will remain safe.

More to follow…