LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti on Saturday constituted a five-judge larger bench to decide petitions against the decisions of the appellate tribunals hearing appeals assailing the decisions of the returning officers.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan will head the bench with Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Justice Faisal Zaman Khan and Justice Jawad Hassan as its members.

A press release issued by the LHC said the petitions against the decisions of the tribunals would only be heard at the principal seat.

It said the larger bench would hear the petitions related to the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers of candidates.

The larger bench would commence its hearing from Jan 9.

Earlier, the chief justice nominated three more judges of the LHC to work as appellate tribunal to hear the appeals against the decisions of the ROs.

Justice Shakil Ahmad, Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad and Justice Tariq Nadeem also started work as the appellate tribunals.

Now six appellate tribunals are working at the principal seat to decide the appeals by Jan 10.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2024