The Supreme Court (SC) resumed hearing petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 on Monday.
The bill limits the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) in taking suo motu action and constituting benches.
An eight-member bench headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial is presiding over the proceedings.
The bench also includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyad Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed.
Previously, the apex court had “pre-emptively” stopped the enforcement of a bill.
The court had ruled that whether the bill received the president’s assent or it was deemed to have been given, “the act that comes into being shall not have, take or be given any effect (and) not be acted upon in any manner”.