Newly-appointed: Irfan Qadir named prosecutor in PM contempt case

Appointment comes after former attorney general Maulvi Anwarul Haq was relieved.

ISLAMABAD:

Within a day of his appointment as the country’s attorney general, Irfan Qadir took over on Friday as the prosecutor in a contempt case against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the Supreme Court.

After relieving former attorney general Maulvi Anwarul Haq, Qadir was named as prosecutor by a seven-member bench in the contempt case, not before they deliberated on the appointment and questioned him on whether he would remain impartial in the case.

“You have visited Switzerland to prosecute President Asif Ali Zardari and you will now be prosecutor in this case – would it not be a conflict of interest?”Justice Asif Saeed Khosa asked Qadir.

Addressing the court, Qadir said, “I was never a PCO judge and I never visited Switzerland for prosecution purpose.”

Furthermore, Qadir said that it seems that the court has become party in the case. He pointed out that there were a number of contempt cases pending before the court but confessed he did not know why the court was showing extraordinary interest in this specific case.

The court inquired from Qadir: “As you have been appointed by the prime minister, who is accused in the case, do you not feel embarrassment to act as the prosecutor against him?

Qadir replied: “I am not going to do anything which is against the law and I will present whatever the facts are.”

During proceedings, Justice Mulk, asked for attorney general Haq: “Would you feel comfortable in the case?” He replied that as Qadir had been appointed attorney general, he would be grateful if he was excused by the court.

Qadir asked the court if he could get a week to prepare the case. Meanwhile, the court asked Aitzaz to conclude his arguments on Wednesday and adjourned the hearing till Monday.

During proceedings, Aitzaz also complained about a news item published against him in the English-language daily The News, and appealed to the court to take notice of it. He said that the story was meant to malign him.

Upon Aitzaz’s request, Justice Mulk observed that while proceedings of the court should be reported, stories like that should be avoided.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2012.