The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court has withdrawn the January 13 and 16 orders of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah which had formed the basis for the ongoing contempt of court case involving Additional Registrar Judicial Nazar Abbas.
The decision was made during a hearing in the Customs Regulator Duty case, where Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan informed the bench that the government would challenge the ruling.
During the hearing, the Attorney General stated that the federal government would file a review petition against the orders issued by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
He confirmed that the review would focus on the contempt of court case, specifically challenging the formation of the bench and related decisions. This marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the case.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar raised a pertinent question regarding the implications of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s order, which had directed the customs duty case to be placed before his bench.
He asked, "Can we proceed with this order in place?" Justice Jamal Mandokhel further remarked on the broader concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary, stressing that the integrity of the Supreme Court and judicial institutions should be safeguarded.
“Issues of judicial independence are at the forefront,” Justice Mandokhel said, adding that the court must work to ensure the credibility and stability of the judicial system. “Nothing should harm our institution,” he emphasized, warning against actions that could undermine public trust in the judiciary.
Justice Aminuddin Khan also raised concerns about the scheduling of the hearing, questioning why a hearing initially set for January 27 had been moved to an earlier date.
He noted that one of the judges from the three-member bench had been separated from the proceedings, which raised doubts over the consistency of the bench's formation.
Further tension surfaced during exchanges between Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Barrister Salahuddin, where heated words were exchanged over the case's progress. Justice Mazhar criticized the apparent lack of seriousness in addressing the matter, to which Barrister Salahuddin responded firmly, stating that he would provide a strong reply if his reputation was questioned.
As the discussion continued, Justice Aminuddin Khan intervened, urging all parties to remain focused and avoid escalating the conflict. Barrister Salahuddin eventually took the position that the court should proceed with the matter on merit, offering his arguments should the court decide to do so.
The Constitutional Bench, after deliberation, withdrew the January 13 and 16 orders issued by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, which had involved the contempt case of Nazar Abbas.
The bench also ordered that the record of the contempt case be attached to the ongoing customs duty case, and adjourned the hearing indefinitely.
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