ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Thursday pleaded with the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions against the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act.
In its reply submitted to the Supreme Court, the PML-Q said that the act would increase, not decrease, the freedom of the Supreme Court.
“After the lawyers’ movement in the country, the opportunity for reforms was missed,” it pointed out.
“Section 4 of the act extends the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Section 3 of the act does not curtail the power of the Supreme Court under 184 (3). Section 3 requires the chief justice to use his power of taking suo motu notice along with senior judges,” it stated.
“The appointment of cases by the committee and the exercise of suo motu powers will increase the public confidence,” it added.
“Former chief justices namely Iftikhar Chaudhry, Gulzar Ahmed and Saqib Nisar used their powers proactively. The results of the exercise of their powers came in the form of Steel Mills, PKLI and Nasla Tower,” it pointed out.
“These consequences could have been avoided through legislation such as the Practice and Procedure Act,” it added.
“An independent judiciary means the performance of duties by every judge without restrictions, pressure and interference,” it stated.
