Pending case: PTI given last chance for pleading its case

Petitioner Zafar Ali Shah is seeking court direction to de-seat PTI, MQM lawmakers 


Our Correspondent October 28, 2016
Petitioner Zafar Ali Shah is seeking court direction to de-seat PTI, MQM lawmakers. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court afforded on Thursday the last opportunity to the counsel representing the PTI for pleading the case against de-seating PTI’s lawmakers from parliament.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, took up the petition filed by Barrister Syed Zafar Ali Shah, a disgruntled leader of ruling PML-N, requesting the court to issue directives to de-seat lawmakers of the PTI and MQM from parliament.

PTI’s counsel Hamid Khan, who did not appear before the bench, sought to adjourn the hearing on Thursday. The hearing resumed after a year and the bench informed the applicant about the request for adjournment filed by the PTI’s counsel.

Criticising the PTI’s counsel, Zafar argued that notices were received by respondents but MQM had not submitted its reply. Moreover, he said, PTI had not even bothered to send any representative in this regard. Upon this, the CJ observed that the court could easily adjourn the case, but respondents would use the media to blame the judiciary that courts were not inclined to decide important cases.

“If you want to see their attendance … you may witness it on November 1 (Panamagate case),” said the chief justice.

Addressing Zafar Ali Shah, the chief justice held that the court had agreed to hear arguments on the adjournment but if the court decides the case without hearing arguments of respondents they would take to streets, blaming the judiciary for such unilateral decision.

The CJ also observed that the court’s ruling would have a far-reaching impact as it was an important issue.

Expressing displeasure, the court inquired the Additional Attorney-General about the federal government’s comments, saying that it had ample time to respond. Zafar accused the government of deliberately delaying the matter.

He requested the court to direct the ECP to accept the resignations and notify the seats as vacant. However, the court declined the plea

The top court, however, accepted the application and ruled that no further request for adjournment would be entertained. The court reissued notices to respondents, including the premier, the opposition leader, PTI chief Imran Khan and other parliamentarians, and adjourned the case until November 15.

Meanwhile, the same bench also adjourned the hearing of the matter of NA-110 Sialkot election on an application filed by Khawaja Asif’s counsel Farooq H. Naek till November 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2016.

 

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