Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has requested an explanation from the Supreme Court registrar regarding the court’s “order” issued on September 14, which responded to a petition by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The ECP had filed the petition seeking clarification on the Supreme Court’s July 12 decision, which had allocated more parliamentary seats to Imran Khan’s party. The eight-member bench dismissed the ECP’s request, labeling it as a “delaying tactic,” and warned that the ECP’s failure to comply with the court’s earlier order could have consequences.
This order came at a time when the ruling coalition was maneuvering to secure votes for a critical constitutional amendment. The proposed amendment, described as the “constitutional package,” sought to extend the retirement age by three years, among other changes.
On September 17, the deputy registrar submitted a note to the SC registrar addressing the “clarification issued by eight judges” concerning the ECP’s request. The letter, dated September 14, stated that media reports suggested the SC had issued a clarification regarding the July 12 ruling. However, it was pointed out that no notices had been issued to the concerned parties by the Registrar’s Office in response to the ECP’s request. The note also revealed that the clarification had been published on the SC’s website, but the Registrar’s Office had not received it until 8 p.m.
In his letter to the registrar, CJP Isa raised several questions regarding the handling of the case, including:
- When were the applications filed?
- Why were the applications not referred to the Committee constituted under the (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023?
- How were the applications scheduled for a hearing without issuing a cause list?
- Were notices sent to the relevant parties and the Attorney General of Pakistan?
- In which courtroom or chamber were the applications heard, and by whom?
- Why was no cause list issued for the announcement of the order?
- Why was the order not officially scheduled for announcement?
- How was the order uploaded to the Supreme Court’s website without first depositing the original file in the court’s office?
- Who authorized the uploading of the order on the website?
