In a groundbreaking move, the Supreme Court has initiated live streaming for the hearing of a series of petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023.
This legislation mandates the formation of benches, tasked with deliberating on constitutional matters of significant public importance, by a committee consisting of three senior judges of the court.
This historic decision coincides with the first day of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s tenure as the new top judge. Prior to commencing the hearing, CJP Isa convened a full court meeting to deliberate on this unprecedented initiative.
To facilitate live streaming, five cameras have been strategically installed in Courtroom Number One. Four additional cameras were set up in the visitors’ gallery, while one camera was placed at the lawyers’ rostrum, directly facing the judges’ dais.
The full court was convened under the leadership of the newly-appointed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa. The roster of esteemed judges includes Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul 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.
Notably, a prior full court meeting convened to deliberate on the live broadcast of today’s proceedings and establish effective hearing guidelines. Sources reveal that instructions for the live broadcast were issued merely hours after Justice Isa assumed office as the CJP.
Upon his arrival, CJP Isa, who eschewed any formal protocol and reached the apex court in his personal vehicle, addressed the Supreme Court staff, emphasizing the role of the court as a venue for resolving people’s problems. He encouraged treating visitors with the utmost courtesy and stressed the importance of keeping the doors to justice wide open.
