SC law interfered in court's independence: Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan.

ISLAMABAD -- Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan of the Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked that an attempt was made to interfere in the independence of the apex court by enacting the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023.

The observation from the top court judge came during the hearing of pleas challenging the SC law seeking to regulate the discretionary powers of the country's chief judge.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa-led full-court bench consisting of all 15 judges of the Supreme Court including Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Musarrat Hilali is hearing the case.

The hearing was broadcast live on state-run PTV.

In yesterday's hearing, CJP Isa had observed that parliament passed the law with "good intentions".

The CJP had also hinted that they may try to wrap up the hearing by today.

Today's hearing began with Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's (MQM-P) lawyer Faisal Siddiqi's arguments.

The counsel stated that he would base his arguments on two cases - the Baz Kakar case and the top court's verdict on the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Act 2023.

He also shared that he would respond to Justice Malik's query on the use of word law in Article 191.

However, when the lawyer tried responding to Justice Malik's point he was intervened by Justice Ahsan which led to an exchange of words with CJP Isa.

Justice Ahsan had stated that he wanted to ask a question but CJP intervened and asked the lawyer to continue with his arguments which led to a smirk from Siddiqi.

'There is nothing to laugh about on this matter, we have been listening to the case for four full days and multiple cases are lined up for a hearing,' remarked CJP Isa.

'Everyone on the bench wants to ask questions but let the lawyer complete his arguments.'

The lawyer then stated that when the SC rules were being formulated the definition of law was written, adding that there was no ambiguity about what the word law meant.

'You want to say that the definition of law is written in the Supreme...