ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) objection to the constitution of the bench hearing the review plea against the Article 63(A) verdict and directed the federal government to arrange a meeting between incarcerated ex-prime minister Imran Khan and party lawyer Ali Zafar.
“Arrangements should be made for a meeting between Barrister [Ali] Zafar and the PTI founder,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa said while directing the attorney general to facilitate the said meeting.
The development comes as a CJP-led five-member bench comprising Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan is heard the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) petition challenging the apex court’s previous ruling on the defection clause.
The new bench was constituted a day earlier due to Justice Munib Akhtar’s “unavailability” for varying reasons.
The lawyer’s body had moved the apex court against its May 2022 verdict wherein it declared that the votes of dissident members of Parliament (MPs), cast against their parliamentary party’s directives, cannot be counted.
During today’s hearing, PTI lawyer Barrister Zafar argued that the party’s founder, who is also a former prime minister, is one of the petitioners, and he needed to consult him on key aspects of the case.
“Please allow me to consult with the PTI founder regarding this matter,” the lawyer requested, explaining the necessity of discussing legal points with his client.
In response, the chief justice noted that the counsel should have raised this request during yesterday’s proceedings, as the court could have issued an order for the consultation at that time.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court approved Barrister Zafar’s request, allowing him to meet with the incarcerated party leader, who is currently being held in Adiala Jail.
