ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk on Wednesday rejected the plea to form a larger bench of the apex court to hear Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ongoing disqualification case.
Earlier during the day, Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain through his counsel had requested for the formation of a seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court to hear Sharif's disqualification trial.
The main petitioner in the case, Ishaq Khan Khakwani who belongs to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), raised objections to Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja’s presence in the bench hearing the case.
Khakwani through his counsel, Attorney Irfan Qadir, submitted a plea that expressed their reservations against Justice Khawaja and requested for his stepping down from the hearing the trial.
The petition was also rejected by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk.
Also read: SC seeks separate petition to form larger bench
Earlier on Monday, a three-member bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja had rejected the plea for the formation of a larger bench relating to PM Nawaz's disqualification, citing that only Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk possesses the authority to form a larger bench and therefore a separate petition should be filed.
The petitioners had requested the court to disqualify Prime Minister Sharif under Article 62 (f) of the Constitution, claiming he gave a false statement in the joint sitting of the Parliament over the role of the army in negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to end their prevailing sit-ins in Islamabad.
The hearing had been subsequently adjourned until October 2 (tomorrow).
