SC judges call for revisiting "one-man show" powers enjoyed by CJP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail called for revisiting the “one-man show” powers enjoyed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, ARY News reported on Monday.

Two SC judges including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail issued a detailed dissenting note on Punjab and KP election suo motu notice taken by the chief justice.

The dissenting note stated that the CJP has the authority to take sou motu notice and constitute special benches but it will result in criticism and affect the public’s trust in the Supreme Court.

The judges stated that it is high time that they revisit the power of the ‘one-man show’ enjoyed by the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and his powers must be regulated. 

They stated in the dissenting note that this court cannot be dependent on the solitary decision of one man. “We agree with Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Yahya Afridi’s decisions on February 23” they added.

Read more: PUNJAB, KP ELECTIONS: FOUR JUDGES RECUSE FROM HEARING SUO MOTO NOTICE

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail in their dissenting note rejected the pleas pertaining to elections in Punjab and KP and said that the LHC should announce the verdict within three days.

Earlier, a nine-member larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC), hearing suo moto notice taken on the delay in the Punjab and KP elections date, was dissolved after the recusal of four judges.

After the recusal of the four judges, a five-member bench including CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Jamal Mandokhel, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Ali Shah heard the case.