Post-JIT proceedings: Eagerness, calm and caution reign in Courtroom 2
Shaikh Rashid’s one-liners set off a few laughters in an otherwise serious hall
PHOTO: AP
ISLAMABAD:
In contrast to the verbal bouts between the ruling PML-N and the opposition PTI in public over the JIT report, all parties to the Panamagate case treaded with caution in the Supreme Court.
The Courtroom 2, where the hearing in the Panamagate case started again after the six-member JIT submitted its report to the top court’s special bench, was jam-packed with the representatives of government and opposition parties, sundry lawyers, journalists and television anchors.
The courtroom was opened for entry at 9am and filled to the brim within no time. It was obvious from the sensitivity of the case that no amount of seating arrangement could satisfy those turning up to hear what the judges and counsels for the parties to the case would argue. People were seen standing on the sides of the courtroom and between aisles.
Such was that rush that Khwaja Haris, a senior lawyer and counsel for the prime minister, failed to get a seat, and kept standing for more than two hours.
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This did catch notice of Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan.
“Where have the norms and ethics gone when a junior lawyer would vacate his seat for a senior,” the judge lamented as several young lawyers were occupying seats.
Immediately, Haris was offered a seat and he thanked the bench for it.
During the course of proceedings, everybody listened calmly and carefully to the judges and the lawyers. Only Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rashid sent out a few laughters in the otherwise-serious atmosphere of the hall with his quintessential witty lines.
PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari started his arguments right after the judges entered the courtroom. Bukhari went on and on – for three hours to be precise – forcing his partymen Shafqat Mahmood and Naeemul Haque, PML-N’s Amir Muqam and a few others into a pleasurable nap.
Opposition parties throw full weight behind JIT
Bukhari mostly pointed to the findings, correspondence and conclusions from the JIT report and hinted that the court could summon the prime minister as well.
The small break around 11am was a sigh of relief for everybody and all politicians, lawmakers and the jam-packed audience strolled around the premises and exchanged pleasantries while journalists hurried to update their TV channels.
State ministers Marriyum Aurangzeb, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Abid Sher Ali and the firebrand Daniyal Aziz sat separately in the hall. Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Sirajul Haq was also there.
Daniyal Aziz was welcomed into the court with ‘Go, Nawaz Go’ slogans by PTI lawyers.
JUI-F, ANP call resignation demand premature
Among first timers to the court were Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafrul Haq, former Senate chairperson Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PPP’s top legal mind Sardar Latif Khosa.
As Bukhari concluded his arguments, Rashid took to the podium, saying his arguments would be “short and smart”, adding, “My Lord, I am quoting my [oft-repeated] quotation that there is a face behind every case.”
The one-liner made everyone in the court laugh. Rashid stated that people were taking sleeping pills in his town because everyone was discussing the JIT and Panamagate.
The three honourable judges remained composed and kept inquiring the counsels in order to seek clarity. They were cautious so as not to make any expression, showing their mood about the case.
In contrast to the verbal bouts between the ruling PML-N and the opposition PTI in public over the JIT report, all parties to the Panamagate case treaded with caution in the Supreme Court.
The Courtroom 2, where the hearing in the Panamagate case started again after the six-member JIT submitted its report to the top court’s special bench, was jam-packed with the representatives of government and opposition parties, sundry lawyers, journalists and television anchors.
The courtroom was opened for entry at 9am and filled to the brim within no time. It was obvious from the sensitivity of the case that no amount of seating arrangement could satisfy those turning up to hear what the judges and counsels for the parties to the case would argue. People were seen standing on the sides of the courtroom and between aisles.
Such was that rush that Khwaja Haris, a senior lawyer and counsel for the prime minister, failed to get a seat, and kept standing for more than two hours.
Damning indictment: JIT suggests filing NAB reference against Sharif family
This did catch notice of Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan.
“Where have the norms and ethics gone when a junior lawyer would vacate his seat for a senior,” the judge lamented as several young lawyers were occupying seats.
Immediately, Haris was offered a seat and he thanked the bench for it.
During the course of proceedings, everybody listened calmly and carefully to the judges and the lawyers. Only Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rashid sent out a few laughters in the otherwise-serious atmosphere of the hall with his quintessential witty lines.
PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari started his arguments right after the judges entered the courtroom. Bukhari went on and on – for three hours to be precise – forcing his partymen Shafqat Mahmood and Naeemul Haque, PML-N’s Amir Muqam and a few others into a pleasurable nap.
Opposition parties throw full weight behind JIT
Bukhari mostly pointed to the findings, correspondence and conclusions from the JIT report and hinted that the court could summon the prime minister as well.
The small break around 11am was a sigh of relief for everybody and all politicians, lawmakers and the jam-packed audience strolled around the premises and exchanged pleasantries while journalists hurried to update their TV channels.
State ministers Marriyum Aurangzeb, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Abid Sher Ali and the firebrand Daniyal Aziz sat separately in the hall. Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr Sirajul Haq was also there.
Daniyal Aziz was welcomed into the court with ‘Go, Nawaz Go’ slogans by PTI lawyers.
JUI-F, ANP call resignation demand premature
Among first timers to the court were Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafrul Haq, former Senate chairperson Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PPP’s top legal mind Sardar Latif Khosa.
As Bukhari concluded his arguments, Rashid took to the podium, saying his arguments would be “short and smart”, adding, “My Lord, I am quoting my [oft-repeated] quotation that there is a face behind every case.”
The one-liner made everyone in the court laugh. Rashid stated that people were taking sleeping pills in his town because everyone was discussing the JIT and Panamagate.
The three honourable judges remained composed and kept inquiring the counsels in order to seek clarity. They were cautious so as not to make any expression, showing their mood about the case.