ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: The Supreme Court was informed on Tuesday that the government had decided to withdraw the notification, appointing Justice Fakharunisa Khokhar, a judge of the Lahore High Court, as chairperson, Environmental Tribunal Lahore.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the appointment of Justice Khokhar as chairperson of Environment Protection Tribunal and had suspended the notification last Sunday.

The SC bench, headed by Justice Munir A. Sheikh, had termed the notification against the independence of judiciary.

On Tuesday, when a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, took up the case, Sardar Muhammad Aslam, deputy attorney-general informed the court that a summery for the withdrawal of the notification had been approved by the president and it would be officially notified within a day.

The bench comprised Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmed, Justice Mian Muhammad Ajmal, and Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbassi.

The Supreme Court’s suo motu order had stated that prima facie, a high court judge could not be appointed against any other post substantially for a fixed term without his contest.

The case has been adjourned until Thursday.

Justice Fakhrunisa Khokhar had enjoyed the “legitimate expectancy” to become the chief justice of Lahore High Court, but she was superseded by Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain.