The Supreme Court on Thursday resumed the hearing of petitions against the recently passed contempt of court law.
A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and including Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jilani, was hearing 27 identical petitions challenging the Contempt of Court Act, 2012, a private TV channel reported.
During the hearing, Attorney General Irfan Qadir said that four of the judges on the bench were prejudiced.
Upon which, Justice Khawaja inquired why the attorney general had not objected to the constitution of the bench earlier as it had been hearing the petitions for the past 10 days.
The attorney general responded that he had tried speaking up but was told to remain quiet by the judges on the bench.
The court directed Qadir to name the judges as well as his reasons for calling them prejudiced in writing.
Addressing Qadir, Justice Khawaja and Chief Justice Iftikhar said: “This is not the first time you have raised objections over the constitution of a bench.”
Prior to this also, you have raised objections to the constitution of benches in different cases, the chief justice said, adding that if the attorney general had brought the matter up earlier, 10 days of hearings would not have gone to waste.
Chief Justice Iftikhar moreover said that the attorney general was making an accusation that he could not prove, adding that, Qadir should not try to defame the judges.
The chief justice said the attorney general was not simply a counsel for the federal government and that providing assistance to the court was among his duties.
Chief Justice Iftikhar told the attorney general that he had appeared before the bench on a court notice which did not authorise him to act as someone’s counsel or as a party in the case.
The attorney general reiterated that the bench was appearing to be prejudiced in the case, adding that, the new contempt of court law did not infringe upon the independence of the judiciary.
Qadir moreover said that the court should also summon those who would be affected in case the new law was struck down.
Upon which, the chief justice said that court does not issue notices to everyone in case a law is to be either maintained or struck down.
Justice Khawaja told the attorney general to respect the sanctity of his office.
The AG is Zardari's man. He should be ashamed of himself.
You bet he is… deserves to be hanged along with the rest of them.
Son of a gun!!!!!! This AG is a big joke!!!!!
Ok let the judiciary remain independent or else nothing will be!!!!!
judges are totally biased .no one should expect a fair trial.
We say this to CJ
: dear Judge do not be afraid just go ahead and do the justice following your own instincts and save this country fron these vultures please judge dear my lord please!!!!!
Dear AG did you have a nice s..t this morning?
AG has all the right to use his legal points in the court – Why these Judges and CJ become so irritated when they are questioned by someone – although headlines made in past few days by these judges are quite clear that they are completely biased – Decision of the case was already announced by CJ long time-ago in a public ceremony.
why khawaja, khilji saad and chef justice are present in all political decisions
Because they are judges… you sound very smart… (not!)
It is general perception that some judges including Justice Iftikhar Ch, are prejudice against PPP especially against Zardari. PPP leadership now openly says that Justice Iftikhar is running a parrell government, not accepting the prestige and immunity provided for in the Constitution. The confrontation of Ch. Iftikhar with Zardari is creating instability in the country and causing huge loss to the econmy of the country. I think Attorney General has rightly raised objections against certain judges for being prejudice.
For sanctity / credibility / impartiality of judiciary and its judgement, Justice Iftikhar, Khwaja, Khilji should dissociat themselves fro political cases against PPP.
You forgot to add, and these judges should twiddle their fingers…
These are simply monkeys sitting on the shoulders of the government. I agree with AG. It is no longer a secret that senior judges both in LHC and SC are totally biased. Guess for who they are working……..
Why the supporters of the govt is against the judiciary on this issue when the counsel for federation ( Mr Shakoor Paracha ) has himself admitted in front of the court that this new CoC law has been made to defend the new PM….yet as per rule of law, the court has to give equal oppurtunity to hear arguments from all parties…..& that is what it is doing.
They are on wasting time. The verdict has been announced by CJ in his speeches. The proceedings are only mockery.
These judges have ruined economy of the country but still are holy cows.
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