ISLAMABAD: Qamar Zaman Kaira, the prime minister’s advisor on Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir affairs, stated on Thursday that no one could stop the parliament from exercising its power and that the current administration would not make a concession or accept it.
“Would you like to stop the parliament from exercising its power? Kaira emphasized, “We won’t accept it and won’t make any concessions on it. Speaking at a press conference in this location, he stated that although the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 is with the parliament and has not yet been signed by the president, the Supreme Court has taken up the objections. The eight-member bench appointed to hear petitions contesting the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 was rejected by the ruling alliance on Thursday, deepening the rifts between the coalition government and the superior judiciary. .
The coalition partners vowed to resist attempts to take away parliament’s authority and to interfere in its constitutional scope.
Earlier this week, the bill was passed by a joint sitting of parliament after President Dr Arif Alvi returned it. Subsequently, four separate petitions were filed by Raja Amer Khan, Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain, Mohammad Shafay Munir, and Khwaja Tariq Rahim among others, under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, asking the top court to set aside the bill.
Shedding light on the constitution of the bench, the PPP leader said that the parties do not agree with this method.
He said that the rifts among institutions are leading the country towards a bad situation. “We only want the benches to be constituted in a balanced and proper manner,” he added.
The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 aims to give the power of taking suo motu notice to a three-member committee comprising senior judges, including the chief justice. It also aims to have transparent proceedings in the apex court and includes the right to appeal.
Regarding the formation of benches, the bill states that every cause, matter or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a committee comprising the CJP and the two senior-most judges. It added that the decisions of the committee would be taken by a majority.
Regarding the apex court’s original jurisdiction, the bill said that any matter invoking the use of Article 184(3) would first be placed before the committee.
The bill says that if the committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter I of Part II of the Constitution is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the SC which may also include the members of the committee, for adjudication of the matter.
