The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed a petition concerning an over-billing issue against Sui Northern Gas Company, underscoring the importance of judicial discretion when transferring cases to the Constitutional Bench.
During the proceedings, a two-member bench, consisting of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Abbasi, examined the petitioner’s request to refer the case to the Constitutional Bench.
The petitioner’s attorney argued that the case should be reviewed by the Constitutional Bench following the 26th amendment. However, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah responded with a smile, indicating that the matter did not involve any constitutional or legal question that would necessitate such a referral.
“Not every case needs to go to constitutional benches. We should have some cases too,” he quipped, emphasizing the bench’s ability to manage cases that do not require constitutional scrutiny.
While dismissing the petition, the court noted that the petitioner could raise pertinent concerns during the ongoing case review.
This decision reflects the Supreme Court’s commitment to efficiently managing judicial resources and selectively transferring cases that truly meet constitutional standards.
