SC orders bars to not stop lawyers from representing Riaz

Supreme Court gives Riaz another week to find lawyer, says if he is unable to do so, the court will provide one.

ISLAMABAD: While hearing the contempt of court case against business tycoon Malik Riaz, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted him a period of seven days to find a lawyer to represent him and directed the twin-cities’ bar associations to not restrict anyone from taking the case, Express News reported.

“Whichever lawyer I contact refuses to cooperate with me,” Riaz told the court. “Raymond Davis could hire a lawyer but I cannot.”

“The worst of men are able to find a lawyer to represent them,” responded Justice Gulzar. “Why are you unable to find one?”

Riaz replied that with the media and bar associations against him, no one was willing to take his case.

Justice Shakirullah Jan then directed the Rawalpindi and Islamabad bar associations to not put restrictions on any lawyers in this regard.

Riaz pleaded for a time period of 10 days for getting a lawyer, saying that he was in talks with some but was given only seven days by the court.

The hearing was adjourned till June 28.

Earlier, all lawyers of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and district bar, in a general body session, had unanimously agreed that none of them would fight any cases pertaining to Malik Riaz or Bahria Town.