THIS is with reference to the report “SC throws out review plea in PTI’s ‘bat’ symbol case” (Oct 22). I have to start with a disclaimer; I have zero knowledge of law and other technicalities. After being bombarded with news relating to law and the Constitution, I am learning the ABC of such matters.

I just wish to share an observation here in the hope that someone will provide the due context which will enable me to better understand the matter at hand.

The 26th Constitutional Amendment was passed by Senate in the evening of Oct 20, and by the National Assembly in the early hours of Oct 21. The prime min-ister sent the relevant summary to the president within hours, and the presi-dential assent was granted the same day. The bill became a law right after the president put his signature to it, and a gazette notification was issued. Right?

The report referred to above is related to a case that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court heard almost at the same time when the 26th Amendment became a law, if not after. The question that is bothering this old man is whether or not this particular case was constitutional in nature. If it was not, then everything is fine. If it was constitutional, then should it have been heard by the yet-to-be-formed constitutional bench? If it was not such a bench, can the ruling be declared void?

S. Nayyar Iqbal Raza
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024