ISLAMABAD
\nThe Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday said that the court\u2019s order not to arrest former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in lawyer murder case would stay. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Yahya Afridi, heard Imran\u2019s petition against his nomination in the murder case of a lawyer from Quetta. Speaking on the occasion, Amanullah Kanrani, counsel for the former prime minister, raised objections to the presence of two judges on the bench formed to hear his client\u2019s petition.
\nHe said that Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi had taken suo moto notice of elections in Ghulam Mehmood Dogar case, while the second judge, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, was appointed as a junior judge. \u201cA case is also pending against him in the Sindh High Court (SHC),\u201d he added.
\nKanrani complained that his client\u2019s case was not being heard on merit. This infuriated the judges. Justice Rizvi remarked as to how he could malign the judges. \u201cPlease tell me as to which of my case is sub judice,\u201d he asked.
\nJustice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi asked Imran\u2019s lawyer as to who had allowed him to talk about the judges like this. The judge did not stop there and told Kanrani categorically that he should not think that the judges are weak, and that they could not defend themselves.
\n\u201cYou will have to give proofs in order to substantiate your claims,\u201d Justice Naqvi said, adding, \u201cHave you been given a special assignment to defame the judges?\u201d Addressing the judges, Kanrani said, \u201cPlease don\u2019t shout. I am not a slave but a free citizen of this state, who has a right to express his opinion.\u201d
\nJustice Naqvi questioned then who was the slave? \u201cAre we?\u201d Counsel for the PTI chairman said after Asadullah, a lawyer, had objected to the presence of a judge on Balochistan High Court\u2019s bench, full court was formed.
\nHe went on to say that he had plenty of things to say about the judges; therefore it would be better if he was not provoked. And when Kanrani was about sit on his chair, the bench stopped him.
\nJustice Afridi remarked that if he had reservations over the inclusion of these two judges in the bench, he ought to have conveyed his concerns in writing. \u201cYou should not have talked in such a manner at the rostrum,\u201d the judge remarked.
\nJustice Rizvi asked Justice Afridi to tell Kanrani to give proofs to support his claims; or otherwise get ready to face contempt of court proceedings.
\nAddressing Imran\u2019s lawyer, Justice Afridi asked him to immediately seek unconditional apology from the bench following which he sought forgiveness from the judges. \u201cYou are seniors to me. I better apologize to you,\u201d he said, and added in the same breath, \u201cHowever, if you become a party in the case, I will definitely speak out.\u201d
\nThen addressing Justice Naqvi, Kanrani said, \u201cIf you still prefer to become a party, then you better recuse from the case. PTI chief\u2019s lawyer said his only demand was that his case should be heard on merit. Justice Naqvi then asked Justice Rizvi whether he would accept the apology.
\nThe latter replied that he would accept the apology provided the lawyer took back his words. \u201cWe have been associated with this profession for the last 35 years, and we have worked with dignity,\u201d he added.
\nThen Justice Afridi asked Justice Naqvi whether he would accept the apology. The latter replied, \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d The court then adjourned the case\u2019s hearing until August 24.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday said that the court\u2019s order not to arrest former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in lawyer murder case would stay. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Yahya Afridi, heard Imran\u2019s petition against his nomination in the murder case of a lawyer from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":324266,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-348286","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n