President Arif Alvi returned to the legislation restricting the chief justice’s powers on Saturday with a plea for reconsideration in order to meet the scrutiny over its legality.
According to Article 75 of the Constitution, the president returned the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 to the parliament for reconsideration, stating that the bill goes beyond the competence of the parliament and can be criticised as colorable legislation.
The bill was agreed upon by both chambers of parliament last month and forwarded to the president for assent in the midst of the country’s escalating political and constitutional crises over elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Following Alvi’s reluctance to assent to the legislation, the government is expected to pass this bill through a joint session of parliament.
President Alvi stated in his letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he experienced it fit and proper, in accordance with the Constitution, to return the measure with a request for reconsideration in order to meet the scrutiny over its legitimacy. (if assailed in the Court of Law).
Alvi pointed out several aspects that need consideration after an in-depth consideration.
