Thursday, July 26, 2012
Malik Riaz’s counsel unhappy over prolonged proceedings
* Zahid Bukhari says court showing urgency
* Expresses reservations over conduct of proceedings
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Expressing apprehensions over the Supreme Court’s prolonged proceedings in a case regarding Dr Arsalan Iftikhar’s plea against a NAB team, real estate tycoon Malik Riaz’s counsel on Wednesday said that it was unfair that the court had been holding proceedings after regular court timing during Ramazan.
When a two-member bench comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was concluding the court’s proceedings about Arsalan Iftikhar’s review petition case, Zahid Bukhari, Malik Riaz’s counsel, came at rostrum and aggressively said that he was much surprised that the court was showing urgency in the case and that he had serious objections to the court’s after-hours proceedings in the case.
“If you fix this case during the court’s timing, we are available every day, but these lengthy proceedings after the court’s regular timing are unfair for us during the month of Ramazan,” Bukhari stated.
As the counsel expressed his apprehensions over the conduct of the case proceedings, a few lawyers associated with a pro-judiciary group started to condemn him but the court directed them to keep quiet.
During the hearing, Bukhari also complained against the Supreme Court Registrar Office before the bench, saying that the office had not listed a civil miscellaneous application, which was filed by him seven days ago.
“I am surprised that the application was fixed for Tuesday but not listed before the bench,” he said. Upon his complaint, the court directed the Registrar Office to list Malik Riaz’s application before the bench today (Thursday).
Bukhari said that he would request Arsalan’s counsel, Sardar Ishaq, not to make the case a judicial one as it was a matter between two individuals.
Earlier, Arsalan Iftikhar’s counsel, Sardar Ishaq, requested the court to conduct an investigation into his case through a retired judge, saying that transparent probe could not be expected from former interior minister Rehman Malik and the attorney general of Pakistan.
He also submitted that the court had ordered an investigation through government machinery, however the attorney general had sent the case to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
He read out a letter in the court, sent by the attorney general to NAB, and termed the act of the attorney general illegal. He further contended that NAB, while issuing notice to the registrar of the apex court, aimed at defaming the judiciary.
NAB prosecutor KK Agha told the court that a NAB Executive Board meeting was held on June 25 to review the letter sent by the attorney general in the case.
He said that investigation in the case could not end in one week. Justice Jawad S Khawaja observed that the court would not allow any process of investigation conducted beyond the parameters of law.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
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