Bench doubts: SC seeks explanation on Bahria Town counsel’s letter

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court (SC) has sought an explanation from Barrister Ali Zafar, the counsel for Bahria Town, over reservations expressed on the bench through his letter to the chief justice.

The court observed that since Bahria Town is a corporation, it cannot have reservations itself. However, the court said it should be informed if any officer or director has concerns.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja heard the case between Bahria Town and the forest department land case.

Justice Khawaja remarked that why had Barrister Ali Zafar not expressed reservations earlier when relief was given to him in other cases of Bahria Town to which, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said the counsel is not present in the court and decision should be taken after hearing him out.

The court  adjourned the hearing till April 2.

Earlier, Barrister Ali Zafar had filed a petition before Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) seeking transfer of Bahria Town, forest department land dispute case to some other bench to which Justice Jawwad S Khawaja is not part.

He took the plea in his petition that “land dispute between Bahria town and forest department Punjab is pending adjudication in subordinate court. A petition was filed in the SC seeking adjournment of the case.

He pleaded that a bench of SC headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja not only took up the case for hearing on March, 25, 2015 but also did not accept the plea from the counsel for adjournment of hearing of the case despite the fact that this adjournment was allowed by CJP.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2015.