News
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Counsel sees conspiracy behind PCO judges’ case
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Counsel for two PCO judges – Justice Hasnat and Justice Shahbar Rizvi – on Monday argued before the apex court that it could be a conspiracy to pitch judges against judges and the army was looking for an opportunity to enter the power corridor, adding that the armed forces had violated the constitution time and again.
A four-member bench headed by Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Arif Khilji and Justice Tariq Pervaiz was hearing contempt of court cases against PCO judges who had violated the seven-member bench decision on November 3, 2007 and had taken oath under the PCO.
During the course of proceedings, the counsel for PCO judges, Dr Abdul Basit, said if the November 3 interim order had come to his clients’ knowledge before they took oath, they would have acted differently. “They came to know about the interim order on its second day on TV, which was also not authentic,” he said, adding that the SC spokesman on November 11 2007 had stated that no interim order was passed on November 3.
“Accepting the oath does not indicate that my clients had supported the usurper,” he said, adding that his clients were aware of the wrath of the army chief and the corps commander that if they would refuse the oath, then they could be made an example, therefore, they took the oath under the PCO.
He said there was no hypocrisy in the statements of his clients, adding that whatever they did was in accordance with the constitution.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk