Friends of court: Awan’s objections rejected

Judge says court can choose whoever it wants for assistance on cases.

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court on Thursday rejected an application by Senator Babar Awan raising objections to the naming of three amici curie (friends of court) appointed to assist the court in a petition seeking Awan’s disqualification to contest the Senate elections.

Justice Umer Ata Bandial is hearing the petition filed by Advocate Shahid Jami.

Awan had contended that Advocate AK Dogar, Advocate Salman Akram Raja and Advocate Salman Mansoor, who had been appointed as amici curie in the matter against him, were not impartial. He had said if the court heard their arguments in the case, “justice will suffer.”

Justice Bandial rejected Awan’s objections and observed that the court has lawful authority to appoint any one for its assistance in any case. He said that the men were impartial.

“Courts decide cases on merit, law and legal ethics and not on who the parties want,” the judge said.

Later, the court heard arguments by former advocate general Khwaja Harris, who said that Advocate Jami, who had filed the petition against Awan was not an aggrieved party. He said the petitioner was neither Awan’s rival nor a proposer or seconder in the senate elections. He said the petition was therefore not maintainable. Advocate Mansoor said that men like the petitioner, not directly related to the case, too had the right to challenge any illegality. The hearing was then adjourned till Friday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2012.