ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed anger over the absence of attorney general of Pakistan and questioned the government’s seriousness, during the hearing of a suo motu case regarding the sit-in staged by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad Interchange in 2017, a private TV channel reported.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa heard the case.
As the hearing started, Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mehmood said, “The attorney general is not present, thus the hearing should be adjourned.” Justice Isa asked, “Where is the attorney general? Is it his choice whether to show up or not?” The deputy attorney general responded, “The AGP is in Lahore. The chief justice had directed him to go to Lahore in connection with some cases.” At this, Justice Isa said, “The court, not the chief justice, issues directives. We are also part of the court and fixed this date on the wishes of the attorney general.”
Speaking about the Faizabad sit-in, Justice Isa said, “Pakistan was shutdown, which case can be more important than this?” “This is not a joke. Who pays the attorney general?” he asked. “The AGP is paid from the money received from citizen’s tax deposits,” the deputy attorney general replied. In response, Justice Isa said, “If his salary comes from tax deposits, then he is answerable. If the government does not want to pursue this case, then it should inform the court and bury it.” “We should be told whether you [government] want to make Pakistan a working state and whether you want to run it as per the law or through street power,” he added.
The court also rejected reports submitted by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) pertaining to the sit-in. The bench took exception to the ISI expressing inability to outline tax details of the TLP leaders. The intelligence agency said it did not have the mandate required to furnish the details. “What is its mandate?” asked Justice Isa. “Is it not the ISI’s duty to save the country?”
After highlighting discrepancies, the top court directed all departments to submit fresh reports in the case. The top court had taken suo motu notice of the sit-in staged by TLP leaders and activists at the Faizabad Interchange last year in November. The three-week long sit-in, which had paralysed the federal capital, was called off on November 27 after protesters reached an agreement with the government.
Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2018.
