‘No adjournment’: CJ asks lawyers to ensure their presence after Eid

Advocate-on-record to argue case in counsel’s absence.

ISLAMABAD:

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday asked lawyers to ensure their presence before the Supreme Court’s division bench constituted to hear important cases after the Eid vacations.

“No adjournment on any ground will be granted to lawyers whose cases have been fixed after Eid. If the counsel is unable to appear for any reason, the advocate-on-record will be required to argue the case,” stated the cause list issued for November 10 and 11.

A division bench comprising the chief justice and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan will hear suo motu cases including the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) land scam and delayed payment to Pakistan Railways pensioners.

On the last hearing of the Pakistan Railways’ case, the apex court had directed the chairman to file references against corrupt officials in the National Accountability Bureau and retrieve property confiscated by land mafia with the administration’s assistance.

On November 11, the bench will resume hearing of the NICL land scam case. Secretary Interior and Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will submit replies to allegations made by former additional director general FIA and lead investigator for the NICL scam.

Zafar Qureshi had accused both officers of non-cooperation and hindering investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2011.