— Court seeks complete record of debate over law by May 8
— SC issues notices to respondents of three identical petitions
ISLAMABAD: The top court on Thursday decided to continue its stay order against implementation on the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 “till further orders” and sought complete record pertaining to debate over the legislation in the concerned forums by May 08.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier, during hearing of the matter on May 02, an eight-member larger bench of the top court has resumed hearing of the pleas and being head of the bench, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial observed the court’s latest order suspending the act was provisional in nature.
Issuing a four-page order on Thursday relating to hearing of the matter on May 02 in response to identical pleas challenging constitutionality of the Act, the top court directed attorney general for Pakistan to submit record pertaining to debates of the National Assembly, of the joint sitting  of the two houses and of the relevant standing committee in which the provisions of the act were discussed.
The bench directed the federation through attorney general for Pakistan saying, “The learned Attorney General shall place on record before the next date of hearing the debates of the National Assembly, of the Joint Sitting of the two Houses and of the relevant Standing Committee in which  the provisions of the Act were discussed”.
The bench also issued notices to respondents in response to three identical petitions filed in the matter saying, “We are informed that three fresh constitution petitions (No.10 to 12 of 2023), seeking essentially the same relief as constitution petitions no.6  to  8  of 2023, have also been filed. In the interest of justice, notices are issued to the respondents in these petitions”.
The court’s order did not mention the objection of the Pakistan Bar Council regarding the eight-member bench. However, the court has directed both parties to submit a comprehensive response by May 08.
