After Judge Mandokhail’s recusal, the Truncated Supreme Court begins hearing on the election case.

ISLAMABAD : – A three-judge Supreme Court bench started hearing on PTI’s petition challenging the Electoral Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) delay in polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, hours after the second bench was dissolved due to another judge’s recusal.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s four-member bench was disbanded when Judge Jamal Khan Mandokhail excused himself from hearing the case.

The new bench, which includes Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, was formed after the five-member court was dissolved on Thursday due to Judge Aminuddin Khan’s recusal.

The declaration comes as four judges return to court to start hearing on the appeal brought by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the Punjab elections until October 8. The electoral authority cited security and budgetary concerns as grounds for postponing the polls.

In his dissenting opinion, Judge Mandokhail said that the ruling issued yesterday “was not dictated in court, nor was I consulted by the HCJ.” But, the judgment’s implications must be considered in court.” The judge stated that since the ruling was enacted without his consultation, he is unfit for the bench.
At the hearing, CJP Bandial said that Judge Mandokhail had consented to join the bench till yesterday. He said that the matter will be heard by a fresh bench.

As Justice Mandokhail was speaking, the chief justice stopped him and exited the courtroom, followed by other members of the bench.

The hearing in the case will continue at 2 p.m., according to the apex court officials.