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President Dr. Arif Alvi signs ‘The Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and orders) Bill, 2023’

ISLAMABAD, May 29 (SABAH): President Dr. Arif Alvi has signed “The Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and orders) Bill, 2023”.

According to the notification by President Islamic Republic of Pakistan dated 26th May 2023: The Supreme Court   (Review of Judgments and orders) Bill, 2023 is assented to, as advised by the Prime Minister at para 5 of the summary.

The law states that for reviewing a suo motu judgment, a bigger bench — than the one that issued the order — will hear the case.

“In case of judgments and orders of the SC in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184 of the Constitution, the scope of review on both facts and law, shall be the same as an appeal under Article 185 of the Constitution,” the law reads. The bill states that a review petition may be filed within 60 days of the passing of the original order.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill, “it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for meaningful review of judgments and orders passed by Supreme Court of Pakistan in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184”.

Furthermore, it states that in case of SC judgments and orders in the exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184 of the Constitution, the scope of review shall be the same as an appeal under Article 185.

Meanwhile on Monday, the bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar while hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) petition against the top court’s order of holding Punjab’s general elections on May 14 was visibly surprised to know that President Dr. Arif Alvi had signed the bill on 26th May (Friday). “This is quite interesting,” remarked CJ Bandial before adjourning proceedings of the case indefinitely.

Resultantly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior leader Sardar Jahangir Khan Tareen can now file new review petitions within 60 days. However, no review petition has been submitted against the judgment which held that disqualification under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution would be for life.