ISLAMABAD: Private school associations, a number of politicians and bureaucrats, senior officers of various public and semi-government entities — all those affected by the judicial activism of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar are set to file review petitions against the judgements passed by them by Nisar-led benches of the apex court.

They are pinning hopes on the new chief judge of Pakistan, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, to waive the orders passed by his predecessor against them.

Known for taking suo motu on every other matter, former Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had given some ‘landmark’ judgements in public interest cases. He had also taken notices of matters like officers’ transfer from one district/position to another, rude behaviour with subordinates, child labour and maids’ torture cases, unilateral raise in mobile top-up by the telecom companies of the country and companies collecting fresh water without paying due taxes. Many such interventions by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar were termed ‘landmark decisions’ by general public but those affected by these judgements alleged they were politically motivated and fell within the purview of judicial activism.

Private schools seek SC review its judgement related to fee

Supreme Court of Pakistan in December last year had directed private schools to refund 50 per cent of the fee they charged during the summer vacation. A three-member bench headed by CJP Saqib Nisar had held that the schools “paid exorbitant salaries to the directors in order to show” that their institutions were in loss.

The audit conducted by the Federal Bureau Revenue (FBR) has revealed that private schools were being run like business enterprises where directors and chief executives were drawing high salaries, but they complained before the apex court that they were earning negligible profits and that a 20 per cent reduction in fees would lead to closure of their schools, the judgement had noted.

Now a number of private schools have challenged before the Supreme Court its December 13, 2018 decision of slashing school fees in excess of Rs5,000 (Dh132.34) by 20 per cent and pleaded before the court to recall the same.

Politicians move SC for review of its earlier order

Former President Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and other politicians mostly from Sindh have filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the January 7 order in the money laundering case.

The petition states that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) failed to submit a final challan in the banking court and the agency was unable to find any evidence against them despite cooperation from all institutions. Hence the petition says the court may kindly review its earlier decision of forming a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) entrusted to probe money laundering against the petitions.

Former MD of state-TV, ex-Information Minister seek review against enormous fine imposed by SC

Attaul Haq Qasmi, former managing director of the Pakistan Television (PTIV), Pervaiz Rashid, former Information Minister and a close confidant of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, have also filed a review petition of the SC’s November 8, 2018 judgement pertaining to the appointment of Attaul Haq Qasmi as chairman and director of Pakistan Television (PTV).

A two-judge bench of the apex court had declared the appointment of Qasmi illegal, directing him to return Rs284.163 million (Dh7.538 million) to the government exchequer.

The top court also observed that Rs198 million are to be recovered from Rashid for the illegal appointment.