Daily Times

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday formed a three-member larger bench to hear case pertaining to the missing persons.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani would head the larger bench while Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir will also be a part of it.

The larger bench will hear cases of missing persons from July 30. During the hearing of another case, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani recommended for the formation of a larger bench for missing persons cases.

Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday served notices to respondents on a petition against Election Amendment Act.

Chief Justice Amir Farooq issued a notice to the Ministry of Law and the Election Commission of Pakistan on the petition against the Election Amendment Act, seeking a response within ten days.

Petitioner lawyer Ali Bukhari gave arguments and said that by amending the Election Act, a new clause was added for appointing a retired judge as a tribunal judge.

Shoaib Shaheen Advocate said that he would also file a case into the matter. He requested that a larger or division bench be constituted on the case.

The chief justice remarked “You should also file the application and let the other side’s response come and then we will see; I will make a larger bench.”

The court adjourned the hearing by directing to reschedule the case for hearing after 10 days.

Moreover, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday adjourned hearing on petitions challenging the changing of election tribunal hearing cases about the three constituencies of the federal capital. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petitions against the change of tribunal by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The lawyers of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N)’s successful candidates completed their arguments during the hearing. The lawyer argued that there was no dishonesty in the decision to change the election tribunal. The ECP has not done anything wrong by changing the tribunal, he said.

The decision was taken under the law for dispensation of justice and confidence in the tribunal beyond prejudice, he said.

The lawyer of the three successful candidates of PML-N Islamabad, Waqas Mir argued that the issue of admissibility of the election petitions is to be seen first. He said that the Election Tribunal issued notices to the successful candidates in the first hearing and called for Form 45 and a written reply.

He said that in the next order, the Election Tribunal issued notices to the returning officers and ordered them to issue warrants for non-appearance. Keeping these orders in mind, a transfer request was made to the ECP.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till Thursday.