The nation's highest court of appeals, the Supreme Court, reopened on Tuesday its current judicial week after a long week-end with the Chief Justice causing five benches to sit at the provincial seats.
The first bench, headed by Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, will, however, remain at the principal seat but it has been recomposed with Justice Javed Iqbal joining Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary's bench at Quetta.
The bulk of the cases listed for hearing by the first bench relate to service with an overwhelming number being the appeals and counter-appeals from the former employees and management of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation followed by similar type of cases from the Pakistan International Airlines or its former employees.
The other two members of the first bench will be Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Faqir Muhammad.
The second bench, headed by Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Javed Iqbal, will sit at Quetta, while the third bench comprising Justice Rana Baghwandas and Justice Deedar Hussain Shah will be hearing cases at Karachi.
The fourth bench with Mian Muhammad Ajmal and Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan has been assigned to Peshawar registry of the court.