CB bench exchanges light-hearted remarks amid speculation over location of Constitutional Court
ISLAMABAD:
Even before the approval of the 27th constitutional amendment, speculation began about where the Federal Constitutional Court, the creation of which is proposed as part of the amendment package, will be established.
Members of a five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on Friday made comments and exchanged interesting remarks regarding the draft amendment that the ruling PML-N party will soon present in Parliament – without ever naming it.
The CB headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan was hearing a case related to civil service rules.
During the hearing, in which Justice Khan asked whether the case would be concluded today, lawyer Faisal Siddiqi asked for it to be decided today because he did not want to argue it in the Federal Sharia Court building, where the new court is expected to be set up.
“If you had to take a building, why choose the Federal Sharia Court?” he asked – a remark that made the judges smile.
Siddiqi further suggested that if they had to take a building after the formation of the Federal Constitutional Court, they could have taken the one next to it.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail — apparently referring to the PPP’s refusal to support the amendment bill — remarked that progress had been made overnight in favor of the lawyer.
The lawyer stressed that he strongly believed that nothing could harm the Supreme Court. Justice Mandokhail replied that if he had such faith, there was no reason to worry.
Siddiqi further remarked that the judges looked quite majestic in the courtroom. Justice Mandokhail remarked that changing the building would not curtail our powers. The hearing was then adjourned.
