A five-member bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a contempt petition against President Asif Zardari until January 22, giving final opportunity to the federation’s counsel to submit his arguments. The bench observed that it wanted to conclude the matter, therefore, the federation’s counsel must forward his arguments before the court on January 22 or file in writing. The bench, headed by LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was hearing the contempt petition filed by Muneer Ahmad Khan against President Zardari for not complying with the court order in dual office case. As proceedings started, federation’s counsel Waseem Sajjad and Additional Attorney General of Pakistan Abdul Hai Gillani requested the court to adjourn the matter considering the tragic incident in Quetta and strike announced by the Pakistan Bar Council in this regard. However, the CJ remarked that although it was a sad and big tragic incident but the government had taken action to address it. Sajjad pointed out that it’s a tragedy of highest sort and still the burial had not taken place. Addressing Sajjad, the LHC chief justice said that the matter was pending only for your submissions and “we cannot disregard our duty”. Justice Bandial observed that the matter should be fixed for Tuesday. Sajjad pleaded the court to fix another day for hearing as he was busy in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. At this stage, petitioner’s counsel AK Dogar opposed the request to adjourn the matter for few days. However, Sajjad again pleaded the court to adjourn the matter for a week. The bench adjourned the case until January 22 for final hearing.
