Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday called clause-wise reply from all parties in the memo scandal case and directed for attaching an affidavit with statements.
The apex court has also called the Prime Minister’s views with regard
to the statements issued by the government persons about the court
proceedings of the memo case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry remarked that refusing reply
in civil cases is equal to accepting the charges, as Supreme Court
adjourned hearing of the memo case till December 22.
A nine-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of
Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, heard the 09 different petitions
filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and others regarding the matter.
In pursuance of the SC December 1 order, all the respondents except
President Asif Ali Zardari have submitted their replies on the memogate.
The Chief Justice expressed resentment over a press conference
addressed by Babar Awan and the government ministers and decided to
take the matter into consideration of the court.
“Court orders were reticulated in former minister’s press conference. Was it governmental action or minister’s individual act? What is government’s point of view on it?” the CJP asked the AG.
“Court orders were reticulated in former minister’s press conference. Was it governmental action or minister’s individual act? What is government’s point of view on it?” the CJP asked the AG.
Chief Justice Iftikhar further said that the prime minster should
have taken action against the law secretary over the press conference.
The Chief Justice during hearing of the memo case asked the Attorney
General, whether the government ministers’ press conference that mocked
the court order was the government’s stand or a personal opinion.
The Chief Justice addressing the Attorney General said that the Army
Chief has stated several important points in his reply to the court. He
said the President has been a party in the memo case, he didn’t reply
the court over the memo issue neither he denied the allegations. In
civil cases refusing reply to the charges is deemed as accepting the
charges, he said.
“Be thankful to God for army chief and ISI head’s reply to the court,” he remarked.
He said the President had not so far disassociated him from the memo, which is considered as acceptance of charges according to the law.
He said the President had not so far disassociated him from the memo, which is considered as acceptance of charges according to the law.
He said that the law minister Maula Bakhash Chandio also spoke
against judiciary. He further said that Faisal Saleh Hayat, Marvi Mamon,
Azam Swati and Khawaja Asif moved to court against government’s
irregularities.
The CJ asked the attorney general about whether the press conference
was government’s opinion however; attorney general denied that the said
conference was not federation’s view. The chief justice asked attorney
general to submit this statement in writing and ordered to take action
against responsible for the said press conference.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that it the right of people to criticize judiciary as people pay for the salaries of judges and parliamentarians. Justice Jawad also said that how the federal government had demanded to dismiss the application regarding memo, despite of the fact that allegations against Pakistani Ambassador in world’s highly important capital were came into light.
The chief justice said to attorney general that the president did not submit his reply so far. “It means, you know that, the president has accepted all the allegations leveled against him”, he said.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said that it the right of people to criticize judiciary as people pay for the salaries of judges and parliamentarians. Justice Jawad also said that how the federal government had demanded to dismiss the application regarding memo, despite of the fact that allegations against Pakistani Ambassador in world’s highly important capital were came into light.
The chief justice said to attorney general that the president did not submit his reply so far. “It means, you know that, the president has accepted all the allegations leveled against him”, he said.
The court sought copies of Hussain Haqqani’s resignation and
notification of its acceptance. The court also ordered to present first
notification for the establishment of Abbotabad commission, which was
furnished by the AG later.
Moreover, Justice Jawwad Khwaja, during the hearing, rejected the perception that the court was against the parliament.
Meanwhile, counsel of PML-N leaders, Rashid Rizvi argued the case and
Senator Ishaq Dar submitted the mandate of Parliamentary Committee
constituted for probe of memogate scandal. SANA
