SC won't allow further delays in PTI polls case

ISLAMABAD:

The apex court has refused to further defer the hearing of a review petition filed by the PTI against the court's January 13 order in the intra-party elections case, noting that the party seeks "headlines" but the court is not going to give them this opportunity.

Resuming hearing the review petition on Friday, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali expressed its annoyance over absence of any member from the PTI legal team.

During the hearing, neither any lawyer from PTI appeared nor did the Advocate on Record show up. Respondent Akbar S Babar's lawyer, Ahmed Hassan, informed the court that PTI's Hamid Khan Advocate had submitted a request for adjournment.

CJ Isa asked Babar's lawyer to read paragraph two of the adjournment request, which mentioned Hamid Khan's family engagements. The CJ remarked that this was a "novel" adjournment request and that he had never seen such a request before.

"I have never come across an adjournment request made due to family engagements before today. Usually, adjournments are requested in case of death or illness."

He said this case was initially scheduled for hearing on the proposed cause list for May 29, and Advocate Ali Zafar had requested a general adjournment until June 4.

"One of the bench members had undergone open-heart surgery in the meantime, and yet, the case regarding intra-party elections had been turned into a 'bat symbol case' by certain groups."

He added, "These critics should read the court's decision before they criticize it. If they want to spread propaganda, they should do so outside but avoid coming to the court. That would be more appropriate."

The judge said this sort of situation does not occur anywhere else in the world, where a party demands a specific bench or hearing date. "We cannot create a separate law for anyone here. If they don't want the case to proceed for ten years, so be it," he remarked.