Raja’s counsel submitted that the his client wanted to appear before the trial court, but feared being arrested. PHOTO: lhc.gov.pk
Justice Syed Muhammad Kazim Raza Shamsi of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted protective bail to lawyer Salman Akram Raja until October 22.
A case was registered against the prominent lawyer at Secretariat police station, Islamabad, on October 8 on the complaint of the Supreme Court’s assistant registrar, for allegedly sending threatening text messages to Justice Jawwad S Khawaja. The case was registered under Section 25D of the Telegraph Act.
Raja’s counsel submitted that the his client wanted to appear before the trial court, but feared being arrested.
Bar backing
Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) demanded that the case be withdrawn and that Justice Khawaja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resign from their posts.
“The LHCBA condemns the registration of a frivolous case against Salman Akram Raja, a senior lawyer and a member of the legal fraternity,” reads a resolution passed by the bar’s general house at an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
LHCBA President Abid Saqi tabled and read out the resolution, which was adopted with a large majority. He said that the FIR had been registered at the behest of Justice Khawaja and Justice Chaudhry, which was “a clear manifestation of misuse of power by judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan”.
Raja is currently representing Justice Khawaja’s sister’s family in a case against Justice Khawaja’s wife, the resolution stated.
“The actions of Justices Khawaja and Chaudhry amount to gross misconduct and are in sheer violation of the code of conduct applicable to judges of the superior courts. Justice Khawaja has attempted to intimidate a legal counsel [to prevent him] performing his professional duty,” reads the resolution.
The bar pledged to stand by Raja, and not to “surrender to the autocratic designs of Justices Khawaja and Chaudhry”. The lawyers demanded the immediate resignation of the two judges and a public apology from both of them.
They also pledged to resist any attempt to arrest Raja or to proceed with the complaint against him.
LHCBA Vice President Chaudhry Ghulam Sarwar Nihung, Secretary M Baleeghuzzaman Chaudhry and Finance Secretary Usman Sher Gondal also attended the meeting.
Judge seeks progress report on investigation
Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi of the Lahore High Court has sought a progress report on the investigation of cases against Zubia Rubab Malik and her husband Asim Malik, chief executive of immigration consultancy firm Future Concern, for alleged fraud.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general on Wednesday told the court that so far 160 cases had been lodged against Asim Malik, who had fled the country. He said that the FIA had contacted Interpol for the arrest and return of the accused couple.
The Sialkot district coordination officer said that Asim Malik had fraudulently transferred 380 kanals of agricultural land to his name. The transfer had been cancelled now. The DCO said that the officials who had helped the couple flee Pakistan had been suspended.
The judge sought the investigation report by October 14.
More than 125 petitions have been filed against Asim Malik for allegedly defrauding people who sought visas to go abroad. The judge had earlier ordered the FIA to confiscate the assets of Asim Malik and his dependents and also put his name on the exit control list.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2013.
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