No final decision on constitutional court boycott: Salman Akram Raja

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said on Tuesday that his party had reached no final decision on boycotting the constitutional court, adding that further consultations within the party would follow.

Speaking to reporters during his appearance before the constitutional court, Raja said the party did not recognise the court. He added that a petition concerning the solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan was also due to be filed, and that the decision on whether to appear before the court was yet to be taken.

Earlier, during the hearing of the case regarding electoral disputes and the formation of tribunals in the federal constitutional court, Raja said that no decision had been taken on a boycott. However, during the proceedings, his counsel raised objections to the federal constitutional court.

Advocate Sameer Khosa told the court that questions existed over the autonomy and status of the federal constitutional court. He said he had informed his client, Salman Akram Raja, of his views, and that it remained to be seen whether his client wished to retain him as counsel.

Presiding judge Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that raising an objection was a legal right. He said that legal questions had also been raised over whether a smaller bench of the federal constitutional court could hear an appeal against the decision of a larger Supreme Court bench. He said principles would be set after hearing arguments on the legal issue from all parties. The court issued notices to all sides and adjourned the hearing.