SHC reserves verdict on plea challenging Practice & Procedure Amendment Act

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the petition filed against the Practice and Procedure Amendment Act, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Justice Yousaf Ali Saeed announced that the court would pronounce the decision today.

He, however, asked how the SHC could interfere in the affairs of the Supreme Court (SC).  

Ibrahim Saifuddin Advocate, counsel for the petitioner, on the occasion, argued that there was no bar by the constitution on the high court to hear the petition against the Act, which was unconstitutional. “SC judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had opposed the Act.”

“The apex court is divided on the issue,” the lawyer said.

He said that the legislation, which President Asif Ali Zardari had signed on September 20, was a direct attack on the judiciary.

The judge, however, said that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa had already issued the notification in this regard.

SC moved against Practice & Procedure Amendment Act

Also on Tuesday, a petition was filed in the SC, seeking a declaration by the court that the Act was null and void since it was against the constitution and amounted to snatching from the judiciary its freedom.  

Making the federal government and the cabinet respondents, Advocate Chaudhry Ihteshamul Haq, the petitioner, also prayed to the apex court to grant a ‘stay’ in the case until the fate of his plea was decided and to declare ‘ineffective’ the verdicts pronounced under the Act.

 Reporters: Mumtaz Jamali and Amanat Gishkori