Supreme Court’s Power to Take Suo Motu Notices Shifted to Constitutional Bench

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar clarified during a hearing that the Supreme Court’s power to take suo motu notices remains intact but has undergone procedural changes following the 26th Constitutional Amendment. The authority, previously under the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), now lies with the constitutional bench.

Justice Mazhar stated, “The Supreme Court still has suo motu powers, but cases will now be handled by a constitutional bench.”

The newly formed constitutional bench, led by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and including Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, has been tasked with clearing the backlog of cases.

On its second day of hearings, the bench addressed significant cases, including undisclosed foreign accounts, recovery of embezzled funds, and matters related to public welfare, such as the establishment of an IT university in Islamabad. The bench also issued notices in multiple cases and adjourned several hearings to ensure thorough deliberation.

The judiciary’s procedural reforms aim to enhance efficiency and fairness while addressing key legal issues in Pakistan.