On Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s inaugural day as the new head of the Supreme Court, a significant move was made. The Supreme Court has initiated the live streaming of hearings for a series of petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023.
This act mandates the formation of benches to address constitutional matters of public significance by a committee comprising three senior judges of the court. Before commencing the hearing, CJP Isa convened a full court meeting to discuss the matter.
Shortly after taking oath on Sunday, Justice Isa — whose 13-month tenure ends in Oct 2024 — formed a full court to take up a set of pleas challenging the legislation, which was suspended by the SC under then-CJP Umar Ata Bandial earlier in April, that requires formation of benches on constitutional matters of public importance by a committee of three senior judges of the court.
Headed by CJP Isa, the bench consists of Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Musarrat Hilali.
