PDM parties ask SC to convene full bench minus Justice Naqvi, Ahsan

Three ruling political parties requested on Saturday that the Supreme Court convene a bench of all SC judges to hear the suo motu case regarding the delay in the announcement of a date for elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) except Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) submitted a united plea asking for the reformation of the bench.

The two Supreme Court justices were asked to recuse themselves from the suo motu case a day earlier by the ruling coalition.

In the earlier joint statement, it was demanded that both judges recuse themselves from hearing any matter involving PML-N, PPP, and JUI-F and their leadership to uphold the “basic right to a fair trial and due process” and to uphold justice and fair play.

According to the motion filed today, the circumstances have created various concerns of tremendous legal, constitutional, and public importance, and Judge Mandokhail’s views also “raise substantial constitutional questions” about the use of suo motu powers.

To hear the matter in the interest of justice and fairness, it was mandated that a bench made up of all SC judges, except Justice Ahsan and Justice Naqvi, be established.

The plea had been made in the greatest interest of justice and to strengthen the public’s faith in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the motion stated.

A nine-member bigger bench was formed earlier this week by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to hear the case after he took suo motu notice of the postponement in the Punjab and K-P elections.