News
Thursday, March 28, 2013
SC to take up appeal against Rehman Malik tomorrowStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday will take up an intra-court appeal of former Interior Minister Rehman Malik before a larger bench, against its order of March 18, for framing contempt charges against him.
A three-member bench of the apex court consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard a contempt of court case against the former Interior Minister for replacing the investigating team, probing the Pakistan Steel Mills corruption case in 2009.
During the hearing, Latif Khosa, counsel for Rehman Malik, informed the court that they have filed an intra-court appeal against the apex court order of March 18.
The Chief Justice, however, asked the learned counsel as to whether he has got stay order against the March 18 order. The CJP said as no stay has been granted therefore they would frame the contempt charges against Rehman Malik.
Latif Khosa contended that they have filed an application for the stay order as well as suspension of the court’s order of March 18.
The Chief Justice again asked the learned counsel as to whether he had requested the court for fixing the intra-court appeal. Latif Khosa replied that the Advocate on Record is required to file it, adding he had filed the intra-court appeal within stipulated time on March 26 at 3 p.m. The learned counsel also questioned why the court was keen to “hurry in this matter.” But, the Chief Justice recalled that the case is pending before the court since 2009. Latif Khosa contended that the court had ordered to frame charge against Rehman Malik for replacing former DG FIA Tariq Khosa, adding that Mr Khosa was transferred in Grade 22 and Prime Minister was the competent authority. The Chief Justice however, told the learned counsel that the court is framing charge against Rehman Malik for intervening the court’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, the court directed that intra-court appeal of Rehman Malik would be heard by a five-member larger bench on March 29 and adjourned the hearing. The court also directed the SC office to fix this case next week before this bench.
During the last hearing, Rehman Malik had tendered unconditional apology but the Supreme Court had rejected it.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk