ISLAMABAD: A major development took place in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polls date case on Thursday as the Supreme Court’s five-member bench was dissolved after Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan recused himself from hearing the case, ahead of the resumption of today’s proceedings.
The apex court was supposed to resume the hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP’s) decision to defer the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today.
However, when the five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, hearing the case arrived in court room No 1 Justice Khan recused himself.
Justice Khan on bench’s arrival said: “In light of Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s verdict I recuse myself from hearing the case.”
A special Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Isa, with a two to one majority, had ordered suspending all suo motu cases — under Article 184(3) of the Constitution — until amendments are made to the Supreme Court Rules governing the chief justice’s discretionary powers.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
