The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi seeking Prime Minister Imran Khan’s disqualification, a private TV channel reported.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, which heard the PML-N leader’s review petition against the court verdict, maintained that no lawful point had been raised in the petition for review. However, petitioner’s lawyer Akram Sheikh said the court had disregarded the rights. “As per Akram Sheikh, the court made mistakes in its last decision. However, we feel Abbasi’s petition does not carry weight and on this basis the petition is dismissed,” the bench responded.
As the hearing began, the petitioner’s lawyer stated that Imran Khan provided documents in pieces which were not verified and hence not acceptable. “The court decides whether it is satisfied with the documents that are submitted … and we are satisfied with the ones we received,” the chief justice remarked, adding that it is the discretion of the court to accept any documents in any case which is being litigated under Article 184(3) of the constitution.
Sheikh stated that the bench did not follow the larger bench’s judgement in the Panamagate verdict. Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked, “You are misreading the court’s judgment. You are giving sweeping statements probably to satisfy yourself and the audience.” Abbasi’s lawyer then said, “The court has the authority to review its decisions and the ambit is not limited in review petitions.”
After Abbasi’s lawyer concluded his arguments, the bench stated that the petition did not raise any lawful point which needed to be reviewed. The petition was then dismissed.
Last month, the apex court had refused to form a full bench to hear Abbasi’s review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the disqualification case against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Published in Daily Times, October 19th 2018.
