The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to the first week of July the hearing of contempt of court cases against leaders of Pakistan People’s Party Sindh chapter on the request of Dr Babar Awan who appeared as counsel for Sharjeel Memon, Sindh information minister.
Awan requested a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, that he was recently engaged as counsel by Sharjeel Memon and he required time to go through the relevant documents to submit a reply over the issue.
Accepting his request, the bench put off the hearing till the first week of July.
The bench was hearing contempt cases against Syed Taj Haider, Sindh PPP general secretary, and Sharjeel Memon for giving a call of strike in the province on March 12 to protest against the apex court’s decision annulling the appointment of Deedar Hussain Shah from the office of chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
On the last date of hearing, Haider submitted his reply whereas Memon requested for time to engage a counsel. Haider admitted that seven people died and two cars were torched on March 11 during the protest in Sindh against the Supreme Court’s verdict barring Justice (retd) Syed Deedar Hussain Shah from serving as chairman National Accountability Bureau.
However, he said in his defence that they had called for a peaceful protest because they were disappointed with the verdict.
Later talking to the media, Haider said that the Lahore High Court verdict against the dual office of the President was in fact an advice.
The Sindh Assembly passed a resolution to express solidarity with the President and a protest demonstration was staged.
He blamed undemocratic forces for attempting to derail the democratic process and impel the judiciary into politics. (APP with additional input by Qaiser Zulfiqar)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2011.
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