Chief Justice’s Response to Justice Mansoor’s Letter, Opposition to Full Court for 26th Amendment Case
Decisions on Constitutional Cases to be Made by the Constitutional Committee, Not the Judicial Commission
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
During a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi responded to the letter written by Senior Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in which he had suggested forming a full court to hear petitions against the 26th constitutional amendment. Chief Justice Afridi opposed the proposal, stating that decisions on constitutional cases would be made by the Constitutional Committee, not the Judicial Commission. The majority of the Judicial Commission members also supported the Chief Justice’s stance.
According to media reports, two important meetings of the Judicial Commission were held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi. One of the meetings discussed the proposal to form a full court for hearing petitions against the 26th Amendment. Sources indicated that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had suggested in his letter that the case regarding the 26th Amendment be heard by a full court. In response, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi opposed this idea, stating that decisions regarding constitutional cases would be made by the Constitutional Committee, and this authority did not lie with the Judicial Commission.
The Chief Justice’s view was supported by the majority of the members. The meeting also discussed the issue of creating rules for the appointment of judges. During the discussions, a member of the Judicial Commission emphasized the importance of this matter, and the majority of the members agreed that a subcommittee should be formed to address it. The Commission delegated the authority to form the subcommittee to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.
It is noteworthy that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had written to the Chief Justice the previous day, suggesting the postponement of the Judicial Commission’s meeting scheduled for today, recommending that the meeting be delayed until a decision is made on the petitions regarding the 26th Amendment.