Govt decides to submit reference against CJP, other SC judges

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to submit reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and two other Supreme Court (SC) judges, the three-member bench which nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone Punjab elections, ARY News reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

The decision was taken during a meeting of leaders of all coalition parties, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.

Sources told ARY News that the meeting considered to submit a reference against three-member bench, which includes CJP Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, in Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

Sources further claimed that the meeting also decided to ratify federal cabinet’s rejection of the Supreme Court’s verdict by Parliament. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif also gave important task to legal team.

The meeting also expressed concern over the delay in signing the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, which aims to curtail the suo motu powers of office of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

SC verdict

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) March 22 order on Punjab elections null and void.

A three-member bench — comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — announced the reserved verdict on the PTI’s petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order postponing the elections in Punjab and KP.

The Supreme Court declared the ECP’s order postponing the provincial assembly elections until October 8 as “unconstitutional” and ordered the government to release Rs21 billion funds for elections in Punjab by April 10.

The top court directed to conduct Punjab polls on May 14. The SC further directed the caretaker government in Punjab to assist the commission. “The court will issue an appropriate order in case of non-provision of funds,” the verdict read.

Reference against judges

Earlier, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif rejected the Supreme Court’s verdict nullifying the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone Punjab elections, calling for submitting a reference against the three-member SC bench.

Addressing a press conference via video link, the former premier said that the verdict – nullifying the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone Punjab elections – was enough charge sheet to file reference against the SC three-member bench, which comprised of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Muneeb Akhtar.

He demanded that a reference should be filed against them in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for a ‘partisan judgment to facilitate one person’.