ISLAMABAD, NOV 14 (DNA): The six-member constitutional bench on Thursday began hearing the cases, pending in the Supreme Court for years, in Court Room No 3.

The cause list for November 14 and 15 states that about 34 cases would be heard by the six-member constitutional bench led by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan.

This marks the first hearing of the new bench, created under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

Eighteen of these cases will be heard by the bench today and the remaining 16 will be heard on Friday (tomorrow).

Apart from Justice Amin, the constitutional bench comprises Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

In view of the unavailability of Justice Ayesha A Malik on November 14 and 15, a relevant committee had decided that a bench comprising all available judges shall be constituted to proceed with cases on these dates.

The bench will hear environment-related cases including the one that has been pending with the Supreme Court since 1993 as well.

A review petition against the dismissal of a case challenging the nomination of Justice Qazi Faez Isa as chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, filed by Riaz Hanif Rai Advocate, will also be heard by the bench.

The bench will also take up a plea seeking a rescheduling of the 2024 elections as it was prayed before the court that the elections should be held between February and March.

Similarly, the constitutional bench will also take up cases related to pleas seeking disqualification of lawmakers, possessing business and assets abroad besides taking up cases related to pleas seeking a ban on government servants for contracting marriages with foreign nationals as well as suo motu a case taken up by former chief justice Isa regarding use of Conventional Centre, Islamabad for private purposes.