Supreme Court rejects plea seeking formation of full court for hearing Punjab CM's election case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) Monday rejected the petition seeking the formation of a full bench for hearing the case of the Punjab chief minister’s election — where Hamza Shahbaz defeated Pervez Elahi.

According to the brief verdict, the same three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — will hear the petition filed by the PTI. Following the decision, the country's top court decided to adjourn the hearing on the ruling till 11:30am tomorrow (Tuesday).

The hearing began at 1am and comprised several sessions due to breaks.

During the final session of the hearing, Justice Bandial said that the court needed more legal clarification regarding the formation of a full bench to issue a verdict on the case.

The CJP also said that he was unsure whether the decision on the said ruling will be made on Monday. Meanwhile, the court also accepted the petition filed by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the PPP to become a party in the case. 

During the hearing, Deputy Speaker Mazari's lawyer, Irfan Qadir said he was instructed to speak regarding the formation of the full court only; therefore, he needed time to take instructions from his client.

Meanwhile, Hamza Shahbaz’s counsellor Mansoor Awan sought time to take instructions for arguments on merit.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan reiterated that the decision to form a full court will be made on merit. Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar asserted that there was enough clarification in this regard.

Advocate Qadir said he was instructed to speak regarding the full court formation only; therefore, he needs time to take instructions from his client.

Meanwhile, Hamza Shahbaz’s counsellor Mansoor Awan sought time to take instructions for arguments on merit.

Justice Ahsan reiterated that the decision to form a full court will be taken on merit; meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar asserted that there is enough clarification in this regard.

Tarrar added that if the review petition is approved that there will be no need for a run-off election.

During the hearing, CJP Bandial said that the case regarding the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was heard by a full court because it was a “constitutional matter”. 

“We have sent the prime minister home with five judges at that time you [coalition parties] were celebrating and now you are standing against this,” the chief justice said, adding that if this matter crosses the limit, then a full court will be formed.

Presenting his arguments, advocate Qadir added that when allegations are levelled against the judges that similar bench is formed repeatedly then these charges can be rejected by the formation of a full court.

“There is no objection to the neutrality of the current three-member bench; however, to remove any ambiguities, a full court needs to be formed,” the deputy speaker’s counsellor said.

CJP Bandial recalled that the SC had taken suo moto notice in the case of the federal government and announced its verdict by hearing the case day and night. 

“In the federal government case, we were of the view that the National Assembly deputy speaker had violated Article 95; however, under the current scenario, the court hasn’t taken suo moto notice,” the chief justice said.

He further added that instead of prolonging the case, it can be shortened, saying there was only one question to be addressed: whether the party head could give directions or not.

“You have already given the answer to this question in affirmative,” he told advocate Qadir.

Continuing his argument, advocate Qadir said that the re-election for the chief minister was held in the light of the court's decisions. 

“Therefore, if the court refuses to accept the deputy speaker's decision to reject the votes of defecting members, there will be no need for re-election,” he said, adding that the basis of this case is the Supreme Court’s verdict “which must be reviewed first.”

Advocate Qadir further said that there is a contradiction in Supreme Court’s ruling on Article 63(A), “which gives the idea that the apex court is under pressure.”

However, he immediately added that he wasn’t trying to disrespect the court as the top court was equally respectable for him as well.

Citing an example of the difference of opinions among politicians which was wreaking havoc on the country, the deputy speaker’s counsel said that if the judges also unite and form a full court, then the issue can be resolved easily.

While concluding his arguments, the lawyer urged the court not to hurry in making a decision and carefully deliberate it.

'Hear case with fresh mind tomorrow': Farooq H Naik

On the other hand, PPP’s counsel Farooq H Naek requested that the court should hear the case tomorrow morning “with a fresh mind”.

Justice Munib Akhtar intervened, saying that there should be no dictatorship of the party leader in the parliamentary party.

Subsequently, PML-Q lawyer Salahuddin took to the rostrum and said that in his opinion, “instructions to the parliamentary party are issued by the party head,” as he also urged the formation of a full court bench.

CJB Bandial acknowledged that the country was suffering from a continuous crisis since April. “We want the country to run according to the Constitution and democracy; we don’t want these differences to continue,” he said.

The chief justice further added that cases related to the constitutional and public interest could not be left hanging in the balance.

“Like every citizen, we are also worried about the economic situation,” CJP Bandial said, adding that today, the one who took more votes is out and the one who secured 179 votes is the chief minister.

CJP Bandial said that in order to retain Hamza as the CM, solid foundation is needed. “Please, show the written proof that where is it mentioned that directions of an unelected party leader have to be accepted,” he said, addressing the counsellors present in the courtroom.

The chief justice said: “Is this state of the economy because of the court or because of instability?”

The chief justice added he wished to dispose of the case quickly and that the court only had two more judges available at the moment.

At this, Salahuddin suggested that judges could hear the cases through video links.

The CJP said the court had mediated even before the by-elections and those were held peacefully.

At this point, the court took another break.

‘Positive manner’

Speaking to journalists outside the court, former information minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry acknowledged that judges didn’t come under pressure.

“The proceedings of the court are progressing in a positive manner,” he said, adding that by empowering the parliamentary party, democracy will be strengthened.

“Parliamentary party should have the authority to unseat members,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the ex-state minister for communication Farrukh Habib said that a “fake” chief minister was ruling the province for the last three months.

“This is not possible that 13 ministers pressurise the judges by criticising them,” he said.

Meanwhile, PTI's Secretary-General Asad Umar, while speaking to media persons outside the court, said that the court has given Hamza another chance, and added that he hoped that the court will announce its final verdict tomorrow.

“Hopefully truth will take its course,” he said, adding that the federal government is constantly criticising the federal government.

‘Fear of contradiction': Maryam

Taking to her Twitter handle in reaction to the SC's verdict, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that there was only one reason for not forming a full court — “fear”.

“Fear of the contradiction of its own decision,” PML-N stalwart wrote.

Saying that she was “almost sure” that a full court will not be formed, Maryam added that when the decisions aren’t taken in accordance with the Constitution, law, and justice, then the formation of a full court is deemed dangerous.

“Involvement of honest judges in the bench highlights the flaws of the decisions taken earlier… and people know that the decisions were taken on personal preferences,” Maryam added.

In another tweet, she wrote: “You [the three-member bench hearing the case] took away 20 votes from us and now you have also awarded 10 votes cast by PML-Q members to PTI.

“Pervez Elahi sahaba's majority was your doing,” she added.

Today's hearing

Earlier in the day, the SC had reserved the verdict on the petitions filed by CM Hamza and other bar associations — seeking the formation of a full court for the hearing of the case — after it heard arguments from party lawyers.

However, the CJP gave a break of an hour-and-a-half on the petition of Elahi, which challenged Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari's ruling in the CM elections.

Last week, the top court asked CM Punjab to retain his position as a "trustee" chief minister till Monday (today), adding that he would have limited powers throughout this period. The court also noted that if Hamza appointed someone against merit during this time, such appointments would be considered null and void.

Mazari had dismissed PML-Q's 10 votes after party head Shujaat asked them to vote in favour of Hamza, but they did not follow his instructions.

But the PTI and Elahi did not accept this and approached the top court.

At the outset of the hearing, Advocate Latif Afridi — the former head of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) — appeared in the rostrum and pleaded to the court on behalf of lawyers’ bodies, saying the system was facing dangers as there were numerous challenges.

“The review petition in the Article 63(A) case should be fixed before a full court,” Afridi said, as he noted that the political crisis in the country was deepening over time.

At this, CJP Bandial said that he was honoured that the former SCBA chief had put the matter before him, but noted that the court would take a decision after hearing all parties in the case.

CJP Bandial said that he did not want to issue a one-sided order and neither would he arrive at a decision under the advice of 10 former presidents.

"We need to hear the other side of the story as well," he said. At this, Afridi said that a full bench should be constituted and the available judges should be included.

Moving on, PPP's lawyer Naik said that he has requested to become a party in the case, at which the CJP told him that let the initial matters be wrapped up first.

"We will hear you, but let the proceedings move in line with the order. Please sit, I hope that your seat will be vacant," the CJP told Naik.

In response, Naik told him that "seats come and go".

During the proceedings, SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon said that he could not "imagine" pressurising the court, but noted that the review petition on Article 63A should be heard.

"What's the hurry Bhoon sahab, let us hear this case first," CJP said.

Barrister Ali Zafar — who was representing Elahi in the case — said that he has also remained the president of the bar. "The bar presidents should not be involved in such matters."

Qadir, when he came to the rostrum, too said that since there are several confusions over the matter, a full bench should hear the case.

'Extremely confused'

Then, Mazari's counsel read out the court's order issued on July 23. At this, the CJP asked the lawyer how the deputy speaker arrived at the conclusion that the court's order on Article 63 (A) gives the impression that it speaks about the party head.

"This question is for you [and] that is why a special bench has been formed. The question here is what happens when the party head and the parliamentary party's decisions differ?"

Qadir said that it was not his job to define what questions arise here, but it was the court's task. At this, the CJP asked him to read out Article 63 (A).

The CJP then said that the article mentions the party head and the parliamentary party.

"I am extremely confused as to what the question is here? I cannot understand what's the question?" he asked.

The CJP then said that maybe the lawyer was having trouble hearing the judges and warned him that he would be asked to sit at his seat if he cuts off any judge while they are speaking.

Justice Ahsan asked if the same person can issue declarations and instruct a parliamentary party at the same time. At this, Qadir said that the political parties' rights have been mentioned in the constitution.

Justice Akhtar then said that the deputy speaker issued the directions — during the Punjab CM election on July 22 — under the SC's ruling in the Article 63(A) case.

"There is no confusion in this case anymore, let someone else speak now," Justice Akhtar added.

'Parliamentary party has the right to issue directions'

Justice Ahsan then started speaking with Hamza's lawyer, Mansoor Usman Awan and asked him specifically which paragraph did the deputy speaker refer to while issuing the directives.

The lawyer told him that the only point here is that any vote cast against the party policy should be dismissed.

Justice Ahsan asked whether the party head could be the leader of the parliamentary party.

At this, Awan said that in previous orders of the apex court, it is mentioned that the party head can give directions to the party.

He said that Justice Azmat Saeed's order has mentioned that the party head takes all the decisions.

But Justice Akhtar said that there are two different policies while voting on the directions of the party policy.

He added that previously, there was confusion over the party head's functions, but after amendments in Article 63 (A), the "parliamentary party has the right to issue directions".

The lawyer then told the court that the deputy speaker gave his ruling based on paragraph three of the SC's order on Article 63 (A).

Shujaat's letter received 'much before' session

Upon the court's query about Chaudhry Shujaat's letter to his party MPs, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar said that the directions were given to members "much before" the assembly session.

During the arguments, the court stopped Hamza's counsel Awan from taking directions from the federal minister.

"You are the chief minister's lawyer, how can you take guidance from the law minister?" Justice Munib asked.

Continuing his arguments, Awan said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan gave directions to his MPs and the Election Commission de-seated the dissents lawmakers on the basis of these instructions.

He also presented Khan's letter before the bench.

‘My party, my letter’

In his arguments before the SC bench, Chaudhry Shujaat’s counsel Salahuddin confirmed that he [Shujaat] wrote a letter to his party lawmakers.

“The party is mine and the letter is also mine," Salahuddin quoted Shujaat as saying.

The CJP asked the lawyer to limit his arguments to the formation of a full bench as the PML-Q president has not been made a party in the case.

“I want a full court to be formed,” Salahuddin said. 

The deputy speaker also relied on Article 63(A), said Barrister Zafar. "The court has already given an opinion on Article 63(A) after detailed hearings and its judicial interpretation is very clear and unambiguous."

"The party leader has to give a declaration according to the instructions of the parliamentary party," said Elahi's lawyer, adding that "accepting the directions given by the parliamentary party is democratic.

The barrister said that those having different opinions in a party meeting are bound by the decision.

CJP Bandial stopped Advocate Zafar from giving judicial notices. "We are not listening to you about the merits of the case, tell us whether a full court should be formed or not?" asked the CJP.

To this, Barrister Zafar said that it was the chief justice's choice to form a full court. "Should the full court stop all the other cases to hear a single case? The full court has been formed only in three or four cases in the last 25 years," he added.

He said that the request to form a full court has been rejected in 15 cases in the past years.

The chief justice said that the court reduced the burden of pending cases by continuous hearings on routine benches.

No objection on full court: PTI

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, PTI leader Fawad Chauhdry said the party has no objection to the demand for the formation of a full bench.

“If [the] chief justice himself decides to form a full bench then he can,” Fawad said, adding that it would not be acceptable if formed on the coalition partners' demand.

Ban imposed on entry of political leaders in SC

The entry of all political leaders to the Supreme Court has been banned for the hearing on the case related to the election of the Punjab chief minister.

Strict security arrangements are in place in and around the apex court. A police force is stationed outside courtroom number one, while registered beat reporters from the media are allowed to enter courtroom number one.

Apart from this, only parties to the case will be allowed to enter courtroom number one. Court proceedings can be heard through speakers in rooms six and seven of the SC.

Hamza submits plea to form full court bench

Earlier today, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz filed a petition in the apex court to constitute a full court on the issue of the election of a CM for Punjab.

In the petition, it has been stated that the ruling given by Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari on July 22 is valid, while Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's letter to his lawmakers is in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

The petition further stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan had upheld the instructions given in the letter written by Imran Khan against the defecting members.

Hamza requested in the plea to hear the appeals of the defected members against the ECP.

Govt sticks to full court hearing ask

The coalition government rulers held a press conference hours before the hearing started and demanded that a full court hear the case, not three judges.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that "bench-fixing" is a crime similar to "match-fixing" and suo motu notice should be taken over it as she criticised a "specific" anti-PML-N bench being constituted for one-sided decisions.

PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto, too, reiterated that the coalition government only has one demand: the formation of a full bench to hear the case related to the Punjab CM’s election.

“This cannot happen that three people decide the fate of this country. Three people cannot decide on whether this country will run on a democratic, elected or selective system,” he said.