SC criticises Qadir over Attorney General office incompetence

The chief justice advised Qadir to engage capable barristers for assisting the court. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over the performance of the attorney general office and its incapability to assist the court properly in important cases.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, presiding a three-member bench of the apex court, summoned Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir in the courtroom and conveyed to him the court’s concern regarding his office.

The chief justice advised him to engage capable barristers for the purpose.

“We were expecting your assistance in the Balochistan law and order case,” said Justice Jawad S Khwaja.

Justice Chaudhry recalled that the deputy AGs were unable to utter even a single sentence, adding that when when the court insisted on proper assistance, one of them tendered his resignation.

“Today, we resumed the hearing of the Lal Masjid case after a long time because on the last date of hearing, one of your deputies was not well prepared,” said the chief justice.

“But even today he was attending the court’s proceedings without any preparation and was unable to assist the court.”

Qadir asked the bench to take action against such officials, to which the chief justice said that if the bench took action against them, they would not even be able to practice.

“It is your duty, ‘Mr attorney general’, to monitor your office,” said Justice Khawaja upon which Qadir assured the court that he would do so now.

Irfan Qadir was recently appointed the attorney general of Pakistan by the prime minister during his trial in the contempt of court case.