Pakistan

Dr Basit not to represent government

The Supreme Court put off the hearing of petitions against the 18th amendment till Wednesday.

Express June 01, 2010

The federation's counsel in the 18th constitutional amendment case, Dr Abdul Basit took back his papers as pleader of the case on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, Basit raised objections over the composition of the bench hearing the petitions against the 18 amendment. The objections were rejected and he was issued a show-cause notice.

During today's proceedings, Basit was directed by the apex court to submit a reply on the notice by June 3.

His surprising move came barely hours after the court adjourned the hearing.

The reasons for his withdrawal are not clear yet.

The Supreme Court (SC) put off the hearing of petitions against the 18th amendment till Wednesday.

A 17-judge full court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry is hearing 15 petitions filed against some clauses of the amendment.

The court will decide whether the petitions are maintainable.

During today's court proceedings, the apex court allowed Senator Raza Rabbani, who is the chairman of the Implementation Committee on the 18th Amendment, to be present during the hearing.

Mehmood A Sheikh filed an apology on the show-cause notice, while Dr Basit sought a two weeks time to respond.

COMMENTS (6)

Zakaria Nutkani | 13 years ago | Reply Is it a public court or a military tribunal that tend to treat civilians as incompetent, insane and unwanted. It is interesting that only two judges of the apex court are inclined to transgress their mandate. They mock democratic government by imposing their dictatorial interpretation of the constitution. History reveals that these judges were also part of esteemed judiciary who granted Martial Administrator Pervez Musharraf a decree to deform the constitution on his free will. It seems they are oblivion of the fact that now dictators have left and there is democratic government in Pakistan. They need to behave like an institution of the government and stop transgressing their mandate. Democracy stands for 'government of people, by people and for people'. They want it to be other way; 'government of civil military and judicial bureaucracy, by establishment and for undemocratic and extremist people.

zafer | 13 years ago | Reply this government is turning into a joke. its like a general disowning a soldier when battle is about to begin. these jokers do not deserve a full term. But the courts are an extension of nawaz league and we all know how capable he is. Alas, O Pakistani nation why can't you vote for an honest party instead of crying on spilled milk. Why can't you vote for Imran Khan. Otherwise you deserve what you get (Now zardari and next nawaz).