FCC draws line on second reviews

The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has held that a second review petition cannot be filed in the same matter after a final decision on the first review petition, and a request styled as "recall" or "restoration" cannot be used to seek reconsideration of a judicial decision. The court observed that recall of an order may be considered where an independent procedural defect is established. However, where the relief sought requires reconsideration of the reasoning or outcome of an earlier judicial order, such a request would in substance amount to a second review petition. Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi gave the order on a Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 37/2026 filed by the Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL). The court upheld the Registrar's objection dated July 3, 2026, and dismissed the appeal. The court held that under Order 27, Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, a second review petition cannot be entertained after final disposal of the first review petition. It noted that Order 10, Rule 2 also limits alteration or addition to a judgment pronounced in open court to correction of clerical or arithmetical mistakes or an accidental slip or omission.