Overview
- An eight-judge Constitutional Bench led by Justice Amin‑ud‑Din Khan approved broadcasting the proceedings, with the hearings carried on the Supreme Court’s official channel.
- Before addressing the merits, the bench is hearing requests to move the case to a full court and has asked counsel to identify the specific constitutional provision permitting such an order.
- The court questioned reliance on Articles 187 and 191A for forming a full court and directed submission of a record of past full-court precedents, signaling that this preliminary issue could take weeks.
- Petitioners — including bar associations, PTI, civil society figures, and former judges — filed 36 challenges alleging the amendment undermines judicial independence and was rushed through Parliament.
- The amendment removed the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers, set a three-year CJP term, expanded executive and parliamentary roles in appointments and bench formation, and altered the JCP’s composition, which petitioners say makes judges a minority.