CJ Pakistan Constitutes Larger Bench to Hear Petitions of Sharif Brothers, Other Cases
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday constituted a 4-member larger bench to hear the petitions of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif as well as other cases next week.

The bench consists of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar and Justice M Javed Buttar.

The petitions challenging their exile were filed by lawyers of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif as well as their PML-N party last month.

The petitions pray that it is fundamental right of Nawaz Sharif and his brother to return to their country and participation in elections.

At the last hearing on August 9, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the federal and provincial governments in connection with the petitions.

The four-member bench will also continue hearing of the petition filed by former prime minister and PPP chairperson, Benazir Bhutto on August 16 about non-registration of over 22 million eligible voters. On Friday the court directed the Election Commission to enroll left out voters within 30 days.

The Chief Justice has also constituted benches for hearing different cases in Karachi and Lahore.

According to SC cause list, a 3-member bench comprising Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Hamid Ali Khan and Justice Ghulam Rabbani will hear cases in Karachi on Monday while another 3-member bench comprising Justice Falak Sher, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed will hear cases at Lahore on the same day.

Two benches have been constituted to hear cases at Karachi from Wednesday to Friday. Bench No. I comprises Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi while Bench No.II comprises Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Gulam Rabbani.

A 3-member bench comprising Justice Falak Sher, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed has been constituted to hear cases at Lahore from Wednesday to Friday.●