LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday overruled a registrar office’s objection to a petition challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Ordinance 2024.

Justice Faisal Zaman Khan heard the petition as an objection case and instructed the office to fix hearing of the petition before an appropriate bench.

The office objected to the maintainability of the petition, stating that the petitioner should approach the Islamabad High Court.

However, Justice Khan observed that the objection would be decided on the judicial side by the court.

Later, the office fixed the petition for hearing before Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Tuesday (today).

Munir Ahmad, a lawyer, filed the petition through Advocate Azhar Siddique, alleging that the presidential ordinance was based on malice.

He said there was already a SC ruling on the Practice and Procedure Act 2023, and the powers of the apex court cannot be increased or decreased through an ordinance. He argued that implementing the impugned ordinance can disrupt the country’s judicial system, causing uncertainty in the judiciary.

He asked the court to declare the impugned ordinance null and void and also halt its implementation until a final decision on the matter.

notices: The LHC issued notices to the federal and provincial governments on a writ petition by Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, seeking details of all cases registered against her.

The court heard the petition and directed the law officers of both the governments to submit replies by Sept 26.

Earlier, Advocate Zarish Fatima appeared on behalf of the petitioner and presented her initial arguments. The counsel stated that the petitioner had been unlawfully imprisoned despite not being required in any criminal case following her acquittal, confirmation of bail and suspension of the sentences in all previous cases registered against her. She said if the petitioner was arrested in any other case without bringing it to her knowledge, it would amount to miscarriage of justice.

The lawyer asked the court to order the respondents to submit a fresh list of disclosed and undisclosed cases against the petitioner and issue an order preventing her arrest in any such cases. The Punjab Police, FIA and the interior ministry have also been listed as respondents in the plea.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2024