Describes himself as ‘helpless people’, jokes about sending ‘difficult cases’ to Constitutional Court
Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Supreme Court senior puisne judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday also quipped with regard to the proposed Federal Constitutional Court, noting that if they were faced with a difficult question, they would refer it to the Federal Constitutional Court.
Justice Shah was hearing a case related to the promotion of Dr Azam Ali, an officer associated with the Punjab Livestock Department. The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Abbasi.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that his client had been overlooked while junior officers were promoted. Justice Shah asked the counsel to show, through documents, that junior officers had indeed been promoted while the petitioner was ignored.
The judge then quipped, “If there is a very difficult question, we will send it to the Federal Constitutional Court—we are just helpless people here anyway.” The courtroom burst into laughter at his remarks. The Supreme Court later dismissed the petition.
Even before the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, speculation has begun as to where the Federal Constitutional Court—proposed to be formed under the amendment package—will be established.
Members of a five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on November 7 also made comments and exchanged interesting remarks with regard to the proposed amendment which the ruling PML-N is going to present in parliament soon—without ever naming it.
The CB led by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, was hearing a case related to Civil Service Rules
During the hearing when Justice Khan asked whether the case could be concluded on that day, Advocate Faisal Siddiqi requested that it be decided expeditiously because he did not want to argue it in the Federal Shariat Court’s building, where the new court is speculated to be set up.
