PDM-led federal govt demands CJP Umar Ata Bandial step down as the top judge after Justice Athar Minallah’s hard-hitting dissenting note
ISLAMABAD, April 07 (SABAH): The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led federal government has demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial step down as the top judge after Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah’s hard-hitting dissenting note that noted the suo motu on the delay in holding polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab was dismissed 4-3.
In her press conference on Friday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said: “Chief justice has now become controversial. Therefore, the chief justice should resign.”
Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that there is no petition as four judges have dismissed the petition regarding Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly elections, adding that the detailed orders have been issued by the four judges while dismissing the petition. She said that the four judges in their detailed orders have disposed of the petition, adding that after this the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial himself constituted the bench under his own chairmanship and delivered the verdict and now wants to impose this verdict and implementation should be started on this verdict but this could not happen and it is not possible, adding that this is not permitted by law and constitution and majority judgment of four judges.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that four judges Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Khan Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Athar Minallah have dismissed the petition regarding Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly elections. She said that today Justice Athar Minallah has placed question mark on the proceedings of the court but he has categorically stated he neither recused himself from the bench nor disassociated himself from the bench. She said that Justice Athar Minallah while agreeing with the three brother judges has dismissed the petition while terming it as non-maintainable. She said that Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial formed three-member on the petition which was already dismissed, adding that if there is no petition then why bench was formed and verdict was delivered. She said that this is matter of facilitation, which has been questioned by Justice Athar Minallah today.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that how the masses will accept the verdict, which is not being accepted by the majority of the brother judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan. She said that the judgment of Justice Athar Minallah points out that this was already dismissed petition and new bench could not have been formed on it and the verdict on the petition is illegal and unconstitutional.