The Supreme Court of Pakistan has restored the right of former prime minister Imran Khan to defend himself in a defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, overturning earlier decisions by lower courts. A bench of the Supreme Court announced the short order on Wednesday, with Justice Ayesha Malik reading out the verdict. The […]
Supreme Court
SC overturns convictions of two MQM-P workers in Baldia factory fire case
The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the convictions of two Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers – Abdul Rehman alias Bhola and Zubair alias Chariya – for their alleged involvement in the deadly 2012 Baldia factory fire in Karachi. Over 260 workers, including 16 who could not be identified, were burnt alive when the multi-storey Ali […]
AJK SC endorses govt’s position on refugee seats
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court has observed that any amendment in the region’s constitution was “not a concession to be wrested” from the government, as the court issued its advice on a presidential reference, which emerged on Sunday. The advisory opinion came in response to a reference filed by acting AJK President Chaudhry […]
SC upholds Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence in Noor Mukadam case
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition filed by Zahir Jaffer and upheld its earlier judgment maintaining his death sentence in the high-profile Noor Mukadam murder case. A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the review petition. The high-profile case had garnered public […]
Supreme Court upholds Zahir Jaffer death sentence
The Supreme Court has dismissed Zahir Jaffer’s review petition in the Noor Mukadam murder case, upholding his death sentence and bringing another major legal chapter to a close. A three-member bench led by Justice Hashim Kakar delivered the unanimous verdict after hearing detailed arguments from both sides during proceedings that lasted several hours. During […]
FCC rules high courts operate independently of Supreme Court
The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that Pakistan’s high courts are independent constitutional institutions and are neither subordinate to the FCC nor the Supreme Court. The judgement, authored by Justice Aamer Farooq, came in a case seeking directions for the Islamabad High Court to decide a pending matter on an urgent basis. The court […]
Supreme Court upholds death sentence in Noor Mukadam case
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has rejected the review petition filed by convicted murderer Zahir Jaffer in the high-profile murder case of Noor Mukadam, upholding his death sentence and bringing another chapter of the lengthy legal proceedings to a close. Read More: SC upholds death sentence for Zahir Jaffer in Noor Mukadam case A three-member bench comprising Justice […]
Appellate court duty-bound to decide disputes themselves, rules SC
The Supreme Court has held that the power to remand cases to subordinate courts for a fresh hearing is an exceptional and corrective jurisdiction that cannot be exercised as a matter of routine. The Court observed that appellate courts are duty-bound to decide disputes themselves where the record is complete, rather than subjecting litigants to […]
NCCIA challenges SC verdict on Imaan, Hadi’s sentence suspension pleas
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking withdrawal of its May 12 order in the case relating to the suspension of sentences awarded to lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha. In its petition, the NCCIA contended that the Supreme Court cannot interfere in matters that are […]
Multiple life sentences awarded in single trial to run consecutively: SC
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that multiple life sentences awarded by a sessions court in a single trial shall, as a general rule, run consecutively unless the court specifically orders them to run concurrently. The apex court further held that paragraph 40 of the judgment in the “Shah Hussain case” does not constitute […]