The First Bench of the Supreme Court that is also called the Chief Justice's bench has been reconstituted and till coming Friday it will be presided over by Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the senior puisne member of the full court.
The changes were necessitated due to departure of Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui for Karachi on Saturday for the funeral of his elder brother, Rais Ahmed Siddiqui, who expired the same morning.
The other members of the Bench: Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Justice Tanvir Ahmed Khan remain unchanged, as also the cause list for the week that includes hearing of the APNS petition against the Pakistan Newspapers Employees (Condition of Service) Act of 1973 that provides for the setting up of a Wage Board every fifth year.
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society's main lawyer, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, is out of town, and it could not be ascertained if he would be available for the hearing.
The previous hearings since July 2002 could not be held due to absence abroad of Pirzada for medical treatment.