The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday suspended Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision regarding formation of election tribunals, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A five-member larger bench, headed by the CJP, heard the Election Commission of Pakistan's appeal against the formation of election tribunals by the Lahore High Court.

The bench also suspended ECP’s notification regarding formation of the election tribunals, directing both the Commission and the LHC to hold consultations before next hearing. LHC chief justice and ECP officials should hold a meeting which could be held soon after oath-taking of the new LHC chief justice.

The apex court later adjourned hearing of the case indefinitely.

Earlier during the proceedings, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer raised objections to the inclusion of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa in the larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing the election tribunal case.

Salman Akram Raja's lawyer, Hamid Khan, filed a request for adjournment, while PTI's lawyer, Niazullah Niazi, objected to the chief justice's inclusion in the bench, arguing that his client believes the top judge should not be part of the bench.

The CJP dismissed the objection, stating that the current bench would proceed with the hearing. "Your objection has been noted. Please take your seat," the CJP said. "This matter is between the Election Commission and the Chief Justice. Why does a private individual have such an interest in this case?"

Last month, a two-member Supreme Court bench referred a plea about election tribunals to the Practice and Procedure Committee for the formation of a larger bench and sought record of the correspondence between the four high courts and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Following this the ECP challenged the appointment of eight election tribunals by the LHC, declaring its decision to boycott the proceedings of these “unconstitutional” tribunals.

 

Reporter Amanat Gishkori