Govt to challenge SCP order for Full Court

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered that the contempt of court notice be attached to the Costume Duty matter for further proceedings and has revoked the rulings of its two-member bench, which is led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, on the interpretation of Article 191 A of the Constitution.

During Tuesday’s hearing of the Costume Duty case, the Supreme Court’s seven-member Constitutional Bench, presided over by Justice Amin ud Din Khan, issued the orders of withdrawal.

One of the seven members of the bench, Justice Ayhesha Malik, resigned from the bench, stating that she could not serve on it and would provide written justification at a later date.

The Federal Government has decided to contest the court order of the two-member bench led by Justice Mansoor regarding the convening of a Full Court and the interpretation of 191A regarding the jurisdictions of the regular and constitutional Benches, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told the court. In that ruling, the Court requested that the Chief Justice of Pakistan call a full court to render an authoritative ruling on the matter.

When Justice Mansoor Ali Shah ordered that the case be fixed before him, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked if the court could proceed with the Costume Duty case.

According to Justice Jamal Mandokhail, not everyone is concerned about judicial independence.