News
Monday, March 07, 2011
Zardari concerned over Babar Awan’s indictment
* President says action on 12-year-old politically motivated case is a clear example of misuse of legal system
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman, has expressed grave concern over the indictment of Federal Law Minister, Babar Awan, in a robbery and kidnapping case, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.
A district court in Rawalpindi on Saturday indicted Babar in a robbery and kidnapping case. The case against Babar had been lodged with the New Town police station, Rawalpindi, in 1998.
The minister, who appeared before a Civil Judge, Mehr Sarfraz Hussain, along with his counsel, Farooq Awan and People’s Lawyers Forum (PLF) members, Sajid Tanoli and Babar Ali, denied the charges and termed the case as baseless.
However, the court formally charged the minister and adjourned the hearing till March 12.
In a statement, presidential spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, expressed surprise and dismay over prosecution in Punjab taking action on a 12-year-old case and termed it unfortunate besides politically motivated. “The president condemns it and terms it a clear example of the misuse of the legal system,” he added.
He said the case was filed long ago, when Babar was counsel of the president. “The PPP co-chairman now hopes that civil society, lawyers’ associations and liberal people will take notice of the issue,” he said.
He also hoped that the ‘misuse of legal process’ for deriving political mileage would be condemned.
He assured the party workers that PPP stood by them since they rendered sacrifices for democracy and human rights.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk