News
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
SC again rejects govt’s plea to engage Ranjha in place of Azfar in NRO case
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday again rejected the plea of the government to allow Dr Khalid Ranjha to represent the federation in place of Kamal Azfar in the NRO review petition.
A 17-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, observed that it was not the only case which could create problems for the government but there were many others too.
The CJP said if the government was really serious to abide by the law then it should implement the court’s order. “The rules are framed under the constitution and the departure from the same will not serve the aim of justice,” he observed.
Kamal Azfar informed the bench that appeares that the government did not want to allow the case to proceed for the fear of its dismissal and excuses were being made for the change of its counsel.
At the outset of the hearing, Additional Attorney General, KK Agha, argued before the bench that if the federal government was not allowed replacement of the counsel then it would not take part in the proceedings.
He stated that the federation was only seeking protection under Article 10A of the constitution. “All the rules are subject to the constitution,” he said. Justice Asif Khan Khosa told Agha that although he launched a frontal attack on the bench but the honourable judges had been listening to him patiently.
Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani asked the AAG that if he wanted that the court’s struck balance between Order 26 of Rule 6 and Article 10A then he argued the case himself. “If you will say that you are ready but not prepared then the court could grant you time for preparation but could not adjourn the case sine die,” the CJP said.
He said that they had not received any application yet. The court adjourned the case till April 14.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk