Hearing the NRO (National Reconciliation Order) review case, the Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned Kamal Azfar, federation’s earlier lawyer, on Tuesday and called for a written reply from the federal government in threats to the (federation’s earlier) lawyer.
Heading the 17-member full court, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the NRO review case on Monday. Besides lawyers, federal ministers, members of the parliament and other leaders were also present in the court room. A Supreme Court full bench has started hearing the petition, seeking review of the judgment of the apex court, holding controversial ordinance null and void.
When the government petition, nominating former federal minister Babar Awan as its lawyer, was presented, the government nominated lawyer said that by this time several developments have taken place — Latif Khosa who had replaced Kamal Azfar has now become governor of Punjab province. Justice Iftikhar inquired why and when Kamal Azfar was replaced. Awan said that Azfar had been appointed adviser to the prime minister.
The judges asked few questions relating to the reasons for the removal of Kamal Azfar and also gave Azfar’s letter to Babar Awan for reading it. Later, the court asked Babar Awan to submit a written reply of the federation as regards to threats received by Kamal Azfar. The court also asked the government’s lawyer to explain why the Attorney General of Pakistan could not argue in this case on behalf of the federation.
The chief justice said that the government had failed to provide protection to Kamal Azfar despite he had told that he was being threatened. He said that why the government intended to challenge the NRO verdict while even the Parliament didn’t approve the ordinance. “Why government is seeking restoration of a law promulgated by a dictator,” he remarked. Meanwhile, the hearing was put off.
