ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said Friday that the note of Justice Athar Minallah is a question mark on Supreme Court’s proceedings in the Punjab polls case.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, she demanded that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial must step down as his position has become controversial, especially after Justice Athar Minallah’s note in the case pertaining to elections in Punjab.

“When there was no petition, questions arise as to why the bench was formed and why a decision was made,” she said. The information minister said that the four judges on the bench had urged to make a full court bench, adding that the political parties too were in favours of constituting a full bench so the people could accept the decision. “Political parties do not shy away from elections, but this is no longer just an election issue. It has become a matter of ‘bench fixing’,” she added.

She said that CJP’s suo motu notice has already been dismissed with 4-3 vote. However, she added that a three-member bench was formed on petition that was already “dismissed”. “When there was no petition, questions arise as to why the bench was formed and why a decision was made,” she said. The information minister said that the four judges on the bench had urged to make a full court bench, adding that the political parties too were in favours of constituting a full bench so the people could accept the decision.

“Political parties do not shy away from elections, but this is no longer just an election issue. It has become a matter of ‘bench fixing’,” she added. The Minister said the apex court’s handling of this case has ensued a constitutional crisis in the country. The Minister said no political party ever evades elections, but elections should be held on the completion of constitutional tenure of the assemblies and at the same time across the country and should not be susceptible to the whims of any individual.