Islamabad, November 14, 2024- A six-member constitutional bench began a series of long-pending cases in a historic session. Led by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, the bench will hear approximately 34 cases over two days, covering significant issues including environmental pollution, foreign asset ownership by officials, and a petition seeking a revised schedule for the 2024 general elections.
The bench, created under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, began proceedings with environmental cases, prompting the provincial governments to submit reports on pollution control measures. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail highlighted the severe pollution from vehicle emissions impacting Punjab and Islamabad, underscoring the need for unified provincial efforts. The session also tackled the implications of unchecked urban expansion and housing developments on Pakistan’s environment, with specific concerns about the rapid conversion of agricultural land
Additional cases on the docket include a petition to limit government officials from marrying foreign nationals and a review related to the nomination of Justice Qazi Faez Isa as Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court. The bench, in its two-day session, is expected to bring much-needed progress on these longstanding matters, reinforcing the Supreme Court’s commitment to addressing constitutional and environmental challenges affecting Pakistan
