HBL sale case listed before Supreme Court next week; five benches to hear petitions and appeals

'Ladies Wing' of 'Watan Party' has joined hands with Dr Akhtar Hussain in challenging before the Supreme Court the sale of Habib Bank Limited to Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.
The case is now listed for preliminary hearings on Tuesday before the Second Bench comprising Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Rana Baghwandas and Justice Khalil-ur-Rahman Ramday.
Dr Akhtar Hassan Khan has contended that with the large network of domestic and foreign branches and with net assets of Rs 23.7 billion last year, the Habib Bank had been under-priced.
The petition is being prosecuted by Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry under the instructions from Imtiaz Muhammad Khan, Advocate on Record Mehdi Khan Mehtab, Advocate on Record, has filed the new petition from the Watan Party but its details were not available immediately.
In all, the Chief Justice has constituted five benches from among the present strength of 12 Judges of the Supreme Court has.
These benches will hear appeals in service matters of which the largest are from the former employees of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation and counter-appeals from the management.
Among the corporate appeals are several from the investors of the Hattar Industrial Estate seeking the restoration of 50 percent discount in the electricity charges.
THE BENCHES WILL BE:
FIRST BENCH: Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar. (The latter will, however not be available on the opening day of the next judicial week.)
SECOND BENCH: Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Rana Baghwandas and Justice Khalil-ur-Ramday.
THIRD BENCH: Justice Mian Muhammad Ajmal and Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar.
FOURTH BENCH: Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Justice Falak Sher.
FIFTH BENCH: Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan.