If ordinances are to be introduced, then parliament should be dissolved, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa remarked on Thursday, as the Supreme Court resumed hearing of arguments in the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 amendment case.
The incarcerated founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf joined the proceedings through video link from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in light of the court order issued on the previous hearing.
“Through ordinances, the will of one person is imposed on the entire nation. Isn’t this against democracy? Shouldn’t the president of the country provide detailed justifications along with the ordinances,” the CJP said.
A five-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, heard the case.
Unlike previous hearings, Thursday’s proceedings were not live-streamed, but images of the PTI founder went viral on social media. The news of PTI founder’s viral image irked the court which ordered an investigation to penalise the rules violator.
As the hearing commenced, the CJP called Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan to the rostrum along with the government’s counsel, Makhdoom Ali Khan.
Khawaja Haris, who earlier represented Imran during the first round of litigation, also appeared in court. The chief justice said he was the counsel in the “original case” and the court would also like to hear his stance. Haris informed the court that he would assist the court in the matter. Following his remarks, the chief justice asked Haris to present his arguments loudly to ensure Imran can hear via video link.
The government’s counsel then began presenting his arguments and informed the apex court that the NAB amendment case was sub judice before the Islamabad High Court. When Justice Minallah asked if the petition was accepted by the IHC, Makhdoom replied in the positive. The chief justice then sought the records of the case in the IHC, including the order.
Justice Minallah inquired about the objections raised by the registrar’s office on the plea of the PTI founder, to which Makhdoom responded that the petitioner hadn’t approached any other forum.
