SC sends another case to constitutional court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday transferred another case to the constitutional bench involving legal questions.

A three-member bench of the apex court — headed by designate-Chief Justice Yahya Afridi — heard the case related to the right of preemption. Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed were the two other bench members.

Justice Shahid Waheed observed since the case involved the interpretation of constitutional provisions, it should be sent to the constitutional bench. At this, Salman Aslam Butt, advocate, submitted that he did not want to say it but this was what should have happened.

Justice Yahya Afridi, however, said the registrar’s office had been directed to evolve a policy regarding the constitutional bench. He said the registrar’s office had been directed that a separate category should be created for cases in which any law had been challenged.

Justice Afridi further said that cases in which interpretation of the Constitution was required would be referred to the constitutional bench. Later, the court issued an order to send the case under consideration to the constitutional bench.