SC assures PTI of five hearings next week

The Supreme Court registrar has assured PTI lawyers that five petitions concerning access to former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan will be fixed for hearing next week. The assurance came on Tuesday as PTI lawyers and lawmakers gathered outside the Supreme Court building to protest against the non-fixation of cases relating to access to Imran. Subsequently, a delegation of PTI lawyers led by Salman Akram Raja met the SC registrar. Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) Chief Organiser Intezar Panjutha, Malik Shafqat Awan and MNA Ali Muhammad Khan also participated in the meeting. Talking to The Express Tribune, Panjutha said the registrar assured the delegation that five petitions concerning denial of access to Imran's family members and personal physician would be listed for hearing next week. He said the cause list for the cases would be issued within the next two days. The counsel has also requested the court to allow Imran's personal physicians, family members and legal team access to the jailed politician, besides seeking provision of his medical records to his family. Imran's sister, Uzma Khan, has also approached the SC seeking Imran's transfer to Shifa International Hospital for what her petition describes as proper treatment and continuous monitoring of his eye condition and related medical complications. The latest development comes against the backdrop of the PTI's prolonged legal battle before the superior courts. Since the enactment of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the PTI has been unable to secure substantive relief from the superior courts, according to party lawyers. Dozens of PTI cases relating to alleged human rights violations have already been transferred to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), which was established through the 27th Constitutional Amendment. However, the PTI legal team has been reluctant to plead its cases before the FCC, where, according to the party, judges have been appointed by the executive. The PTI has also remained inconsistent in pursuing cases relating to Imran Khan before the Supreme Court. Whenever party lawyers and lawmakers organise protests over non-fixation of cases, the SC assures them of early fixation of petitions. However, the party has so far been unable to obtain substantive relief. Experts argue that the SC has no jurisdiction to entertain matters falling within the domain of civil liberties in the first instance. However, five cases concerning Imran Khan have reached the apex court after adjudication by the Islamabad High Court. In one such case, a three-member SC bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar issued notices to the Adiala Jail superintendent, Punjab home secretary and advocate generals. The bench directed the respondents to submit their replies within three weeks in a case concerning the alleged denial of access to Imran Khan. The SC also sought details of all meetings that Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have so far held in prison with party leaders, family members and lawyers. Meanwhile, the IHC is also hearing petitions challenging the alleged "solitary confinement" of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. Some lawyers believe that the PTI is unlikely to obtain substantive relief from the courts until tensions between the party and the country's powerful circles are eased. According to this view, a change in the relationship between the PTI and the establishment could also bring a change in the legal situation facing the party and its leadership. Judges' salaries increased Separately, the federal government has increased the monthly salaries of judges of the Supreme Court and high courts through a new presidential order. The monthly salary of a SC judge has been increased to Rs1.5 million, with the revised salary taking effect from December 10 of last year. The salary of the chief justice of Pakistan has been fixed at Rs1.6 million per month, with the increase taking effect from July 1. The monthly salary of high court judges has been increased from Rs1.095 million to Rs1.205 million.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/o7iKk6b