Apex court would not interfere in economic matters as it did not have the required ‘expertise’: CJP Umar Ata Bandial

ISLAMABAD, June 05 (SABAH): Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial said on Monday that the top court would not interfere in economic matters as it did not have the required ‘expertise’ as a bench heard a case related to K-Electric’s (KE) privatization.

The top judge made the remarks when a three-member bench headed by him and comprising Mrs Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Justice Athar Minallah took up a case regarding privatisation of the Karachi Electric (KE).

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial advised the petitioner’s lawyer, Rashid Ahmed Rizvi, to approach the concerned high court in the matter.

He highlighted, however, that the Parliament made two laws related to clause 3 of Article 184 – which state that for the court to have original jurisdiction on an issue, it first needs to be of public importance and must involve a violation of fundamental rights enshrined within the Constitution.

The chief justice also questioned if old cases were scheduled for hearings so the issue could be observed ‘live’.

Advocate Salahuddin Ahmed mentioned that an application had emerged against the KSC Labour Union; however, Mrs Justice Ayesha A. Malik stated that the matter was not before the court at the present time.

The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the hearing should be adjourned till next week. Justice Bandial maintained that the court would be on holiday from next week and judges would not be available.

The CJP instructed the lawyer to receive instructions before the next hearing. The court highlighted that it had been eighteen years since the privatization of the power utility. The lawyer requested the court to adjourn the hearing till next week. The chief justice replied summer vacation would begin next week and judges should visit relevant registries to hear the cases. He said the court would resume hearing today (Tuesday).