Justice Qazi Faez Isa and other litigants on Tuesday sought deferment of a hearing of the petitions filed against a presidential reference against the apex court judge, which has been scheduled by the Supreme Court for October 28.
The petitioners contended that a protest sit-in is likely in Islamabad on the aforementioned date, and also pointed out that the Supreme Court Bar Association will be holding elections on October 29 and 30, which will keep some litigants and their counsels busy. The plea said the ‘conditions for movement’ in Islamabad will not be suitable on October 28 due to the expected sit-in. They pleaded the court to fix a future date for hearing of the case.
Earlier on Monday, the apex court had re-fixed the hearing of challenges to the filing of the presidential reference against Justice Isa on Oct 28. The decision came after his counsel was initially informed by the larger bench hearing the petitions that they will request the chief justice for the reconstitution of a full court due to the unavailability of one of the judges.
The decision to continue with the hearing from next week was taken when the 10-judge full court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was informed that Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, who was unavailable for hearing on Monday, would be able to resume his duty next Monday.
