ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial is reported to have initiated consultations with his fellow judges in an effort to end the division within the Supreme Court. The consultations began last week and continued on Sunday, according to multiple media reports.
Information gathered by MM News from multiple sources indicate that the Chief Justice has formed benches for the upcoming week in an attempt to create a consensus among the judges and end the impression of differences.
The move comes as the Supreme Court has been divided over various issues, including the appointment of judges and the conduct of court proceedings.
Additionally, he has added judges who gave dissenting notes in the Punjab election case to his bench. Justices Yahya Afridi and Athar Minallah will be a part of the Chief Justice’s bench starting on Monday, while Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar will be a part of another bench.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik have also been included in a bench, while Justice Athar Minallah will be included in the bench with Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi. Another bench comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi has also been constituted.
Court reports in Islamabad believe that the Chief Justice’s efforts to end the rift among the judges are seen as an important step towards ensuring a more cohesive and functional Supreme Court in Pakistan.
