ISLAMABAD : A larger bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Friday resumed hearing into
presidential reference case, seeking explanation of section 63 A of the constitution . Chief Justice Umar, Atta Bandial , is heading a 5;- member bench which is hearing the presidential reference .
The Pakistan Tehreek – e – Insaf (PTI) government had sent a presidential reference to SCP to seek explanation on section 63-A of the constitution to get its judgement on period of disqualification for a parliamentarian who is disqualified for crossing the floor to vote on any issue in parliament against an elected government . The bench is hearing the arguments of all the parties to the case .
During the hearing on Friday chief justice, Umar Atta Bandial , observed that if any member of the parliament can defy his/her party leadership if he thinks his party chief was working against the national interest. Attorney general , Khalid Javed Khan, argued in support of presidential reference saying the defectors challenge the credibility of the whole democratic system by showing disloyalty to his / her party and hence it was high time to stop this ugly practice by disqualifying defectors for life timw. The attorney general pleaded before the court that lifetime disqualification can remove slur of defection from the national politics . The court also asked various questions from the attorney general over 18th amendment and spirit of law.
