SC reserves verdict on pleas against audio leaks commission, to issue short order today

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Supreme Court on Friday reserved the verdict on the pleas against the audio leaks commission, announcing a short order will be issued today.

Hearing the pleas, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the government cannot ask any judge of its choice to sit in the bench. "The legislation to regulate the powers of the chief justice has been done in haste. The government tried to create differences among the judges. We would have shown a better path had the government consulted us," he observed.

The CJP remarked that the commission had been assigned the task of the investigation agencies.

The attorney general told the court that there would have been difficulties if the government had given the power to another institution to investigate the matter.

Shoaib Shaheen, counsel for the petitioner, stated that there is no objection of the recording of the audios is as per the law.

The CJP remarked that the 1998 verdict in the Benazir case tells another thing. "According to the verdict, the calls can be recorded only with the permission of the court," he observed.

The attorney general objected to the formation of the larger bench.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ejazul Ahsan, Justice Akhtar Muneeb, Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the pleas.