Newly-appointed Attorney General seeks time for preparation

Newly-appointed Attorney General Irfan Quadir on Friday sought time for preparation in the contempt case against Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, igniting a new argument between the judges and Advocate Aitzaz Ahsan.

A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed the hearing of the contempt case in which Irfan Qadir requested the court that he be given some time to review the case.

Upon which, Justice Nasirul Mulk said that former attorney general Maulvi Anwarul Haq was the prosecutor for this case and the court could order him to carry on. However, Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel for Prime Minister Gilani objected it saying that the court could not ask Anwarul Haq to continue.

He also requested the bench to give some time to newly-appointed attorney general to review the case appropriately.

Justice Nasirul Mulk raised a question whether it should be said that Prime Minister Gilani had himself appointed his own prosecutor and whether such declaration was not the violation of the Article 10-A of the  Constitution.

Later, Justice Ijaz Chaudhry stated that choosing a prosecutor was the court’s exclusive right rather the accused.

To which the counsel for the premier said that he would argue his case once a prosecutor is chosen. However, the bench after mutual consultation directed him to continue his argument and complete his evidence by Wednesday, April 18.

In the meantime, the bench argued that the court would decide whether to bring Anwarl Haq back as a prosecutor or to let Qadir continue.

Irfan Qadir was asked to sit down by Justice Nasirul Mulk when he pleaded the court to give him notice that he would be able to discuss the judges. The judge was of the opinion that they would solve the issue by themselves.

Justice Mulk also interrupted Aitzaz Ahsan when he commented about the contempt of court case against Babar Awan, saying it was a matter between judiciary and the former law minister.

The government on Thursday replaced Maulvi Anwarul Haq with Irfan Qadir as Attorney General of Pakistan.

In the course of hearing, Aitzaz reiterated his stance for a fair trial for Prime Minister Gilani under Article 10 (a) of the Constitution.

In his view, the process of a fair trial is now a fundamental right of every person with the insertion of the said article in the 18^th Constitutional Amendment. He asserted that Supreme Court’s rules are not superior to the Constitution.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=18915

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Apr 13 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.