LAHORE: A Lahore High Court five-member larger bench, seized with a plea challenging the powers of the caretaker government to remove public servants, including the advocate general and law officers, was reconstituted on Wednesday after the Punjab government’s lawyer objected to one of its members.

The bench was headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and comprised Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir, Justice Rasaal Hassan Syed and Justice Asim Hafeez.

At the outset of the hearing, Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar pointed out that Justice Shabbir, being a single judge, previously, recused himself from a petition challenging the removal of Punjab Advocate General Ahmad Awais.

He said it would not be appropriate for the judge to remain a member of the larger bench hearing the same matter.

Agreeing with the point of the law officer, Justice Najafi adjourned the hearing and referred the matter to the chief justice for the reconstitution of the bench.

Later, Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti reconstituted the bench by replacing Justice Shabbir with Justice Anwaar Hussain.

The bench will resume its hearing on Thursday (today).

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2023