The election delay case in the Supreme Court had to be adjounred again as soon as proceedings began on Monday because a new law had taken effect.
“I want to say something,” Attorney General Mansoor Awan said as the elections commission’s lawyer was starting his arguments.
“After assent from the president the Supreme Court review bill has become law and it is in effect since Friday,” he told the court.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar remarked that the AG’s remarks had produced a smile on the face of the ECP counsel. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the hearing regarding the bill curtailing his powers was due to be heard on Thursday, so the case under discussion would be heard on the same day.
Justice Bandial also asked if the PTI had been told about the new law and added that things should not happen by ‘surprise’.
So how did the government put the bill into effect without anyone noticing.
The Supreme Court had already stopped the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill from taking effect on April 13. The bill had sought to limit the CJP’s sole power to make and break benches and take suo motu notices. The bill was already pending assent from President Arif Alvi.
However, another bill was introduced by on April 14 Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who is the SAPM on youth affairs. Though part of the government, Khawaja’s bill was tabled as a private member bill.
Titled the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) the bill was hurried through the assembly and then passed through the Senate on May 5. It was signed into law on May 26 and was made part of the gazette on the morning of the hearing.
