SC Adjourns Hearing on 26th Amendment Petitions, Notices Issued for Full Court Formation

ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (Alliance News): The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s constitutional bench has issued notices on petitions challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment, including requests for a full court and live broadcast of proceedings.

The court adjourned the hearing for three weeks.

An eight-member bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the petitions. On calls for a full court, Justice Jamal Mandokhel clarified that such decisions are made by the Judicial Commission, which nominates judges for constitutional benches.

He assured that all commission-appointed judges were present on the current bench.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, addressing the lawyers’ queries, remarked that the current bench should be considered a full court. Justice Ayesha Malik also pointed out that there were no restrictions on forming a full court.

Petitioner lawyer Faisal Siddiqui argued that the 26th Amendment violated the principle of separation of powers and highlighted procedural issues during its approval in Parliament.

He noted that the House was incomplete during the voting process, and certain provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were underrepresented.

Justice Mandokhel, addressing the request for a full court, cautioned against raising objections should a full court be constituted. The bench urged lawyers to present a unified stance, as differing arguments were creating confusion.

The case, which raises significant constitutional and procedural questions, will resume after a three-week break.