Tag chief justice

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has hinted at constituting a Panama JIT type investigation panel to probe the money laundering allegations against PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has approached the Supreme Court (SC) over non-appearance of PPP leaders before the Joint Investigation Team probing Rs35 billion money laundering case.

During hearing on Monday, Justice Umar Ata Bandia remarked that the money stashed in accounts is illegal. On this the CJP observed that this is black money and the court will not spare anyone.

On August 1, the FIA issued notices to Zardari and Talpur to appear before a JIT in Islamabad on Saturday. But the duo did not appear before the FIA team on Saturday.

Talpur also demanded removal of the head of the FIA’s joint investigation team formed to probe money-laundering allegations against them. Citing reservations about JIT head Najaf Mirza, Talpur’s counsel Farooq H Naek petitioned the FIA to replace him and constitute a new investigative team to conduct the probe.

Naek told Geo News that Zardari got an FIR registered against Najaf Mirza back in 2005. Expressing his reservations about the JIT head, the counsel said a transparent investigation is not possible if Mirza is not replaced. “We are ready to cooperate with the FIA,” Naek said, adding Talpur could not appear before the JIT as she was in Larkana to submit her asset details. He requested for a new date for his client to appear before the JIT.

The FIA has also prepared a report pertaining to its investigations in the case so far, which would be submitted with the Supreme Court.

On Friday, sources informed the Geo News that a team of FIA officials collected evidence in the Rs35 billion money laundering case, and handed it over to the JIT.

According to the sources, money trail of Rs23 billion out of Rs35 billion has been obtained so far. The sources have said that the JIT has decided not to register further money laundering cases until the next hearing of the case by the Supreme Court on August 6.

The Supreme Court on Thursday held PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry in contempt of court, and sentenced him till the rising of the court, effectively rendering him disqualified to contest elections for a period of five years,

During his speech at a PML-N rally in Jarranwala in January 2018, Chaudhry had said: “There was an era when the Kaabah was full of idols. Today, the judiciary, which is the country’s highest institution, is also full of PCO [Provisional Constitution Order] idols.”

In the same speech, Chaudhry said: “Mian Nawaz Sharif, throw them out, throw him out of the court. They will not give justice but will continue their injustices.”

On February 1, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice of “contemptuous speeches”, and on February 6, the top court issued Chaudhry a show-cause notice, ordering him to file his response.

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On July 11, the apex court, after hearing Chaudhry’s arguments, had closed the case and reserved its judgement, which it delivered today.

The three-judge bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed handed him a Rs100,000 fine and sentenced him till the rising of the court.

Legal observers believe that Chaudhry stands disqualified from contesting elections for five years under Article 63(1)(g) of the Constitution, which says: “A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen a member of the parliament if he has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction for propagating any opinion or acting in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, or the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan, or the integrity or independence of the judiciary of Pakistan or which defames or brings into ridicule the judiciary or the armed forces of Pakistan.”

Chaudhry had contested the General Election from NA-102 (Faisalabad-II) but lost to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Nawab Shair by almost 12,000 votes.

The verdict in the contempt case against Chaudhry, and his subsequent disqualification for five years, is similar to that of his fellow PML-N leader and former privatisation minister Daniyal Aziz.

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court declared null and void on Wednesday the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone polling in NA-60 Rawalpindi after the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hanif Abbasi.

On July 22, Abbasi was sentenced for life in the ephedrine quota case following which the ECP postponed the election in the Rawalpindi constituency citing various legal provisions regarding fairness of polls.

On July 24, Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed, Abbasi’s main contender in the constituency, approached the top court against the ECP order but the Supreme Court allowed for the postponement to continue and decided to take up his plea later.

CJP dismisses Sheikh Rasheed’s plea against NA-60 poll delay

Hearing the case today, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar directed the ECP to hold the by-election on the seat on time.

Rasheed praised the chief justice over the court’s decision and took back his petition against the ECP order.

The AML chief also contested and won the July 25 General Election from Rawalpindi’s NA-62 seat.

‘ECP bound to provide level-playing field’
Following the verdict against Abbasi, the ECP had issued a statement: “Only two days are left to the conduct of polls when Mr Hanif Abbasi, a potential candidate from NA-60 Rawalpindi-IV, has been disqualified, which has resulted in heated debate in the media and political circles rendering the atmosphere as fully and negatively charged.”

“The ECP having taken cognisance of all the attending circumstances is bound to provide level playing field to the contestants, under the Constitution and the law, particularly Section 4 of the Elections Act 2017 read with Article 218(3) of the Constitution and the powers of the Commission defined by the august Supreme Court of Pakistan in famous Workers Party case, and further in order to do complete justice between the contestants and the parties, the ECP directs that the general elections 2018 in NA-60 Rawalpindi IV is postponed.,” it stated further.

MPA-elect Nadeem Bara, who, along with his aides, tore their uniforms and fled the scene right
ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday ordered the arrest of Nadeem Bara, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) newly-elected member of the Punjab Assembly.

The CJP took suo motu notice of the physical assault of police officers in Lahore’s Hanjarwal area on Saturday night by Bara and his aides.

Justice Nisar further directed Inspector General (IG) Punjab Kaleem Imam and other officers to appear before the top court tomorrow (Monday).

The IG Punjab said, “A case has been registered against 50 suspects, including Bara.”

“Twenty-one suspects have been arrested so far,” he added.

Late Saturday night, the PTI MPA-elect and his aides physically assaulted Hanjarwal station house officer (SHO) Rana Afzal and other officers.

Superintendent of police (SP) Maaz Zafar said security officers led by SHO Afzal were dispatched to Bara’s residence after reports of aerial firing were received.

Zafar added, “Upon reaching the scene, the SHO and his men were physically assaulted by MPA-elect Nadeem Bara, who, along with his aides, tore their uniforms and fled the scene right after.”

The wounded personnel were shifted to Jinnah Hospital for treatment, the SP informed Geo News.

A case was later registered against 49 suspects, including Nadeem Bara and Muneer Bara.

The suspects have been booked for attempted murder and charged under the Terrorism Act.

CJP Justice Saqib Nisar. Photo: File
KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar affirmed on Sunday that the judiciary is working independently and free from any pressure.

He made the remarks while hearing a case in the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.

In his remarks, Chief Justice Nisar observed, “I read about the remarks of a judge in Islamabad and was deeply saddened”.

Judiciary also responsible for current situation of country: Justice Shaukat Siddiqui

“As the head of the judiciary, I assure that we are not under anyone’s pressure,” he said, adding that, “I strictly clarify that we are working freely and not under anyone’s pressure”.

In an address to the Rawalpindi Bar Association on Saturday, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court had claimed that certain quarters were interfering in the working of the higher judiciary.

“I was told that if I pass judgments on their directives then the references against me will be withdrawn,” he said, adding that, “I was also assured that I will be made the chief justice of Pakistan in September and not even November”.

Justice Siddiqui further lamented, “Today, even the independent media has cowed down.”

لاہور(عمر خالد)چیف جسٹس لاہورہائی ہائیکورٹ سید منصور علی شاہ نے ملازمین کی جانب سے دیئے گئے لنچ میں خطاب کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ یہ ادارہ آپ کی ماں ہے۔ اس کی دل وجان سے خدمت کریں ۔ ادارے پیار سے چلتے ہیں۔ ہائی کورٹ میں ملازمین کی تعداد لگ بھگ 2600 قریب ہیں۔ میرے لئے سب برابر ہے ۔ مجھے سب سے پیار ہے۔ میرے لئے وہ زیادہ پیارے ہیں جو ادارے سے پیار کرتے ہیں۔ فاضل چیف جسٹس نے کہا کہ ادارے اصولوں پر چلتے ہیں، ہائی کورٹ میں سب بھرتیاں میرٹ پر کی گئی ہیں ۔ اس بات پر لوگ آج تک مجھ سے ناراض ہیں لیکن مجھے اسکی کوئی پرواہ نہیں ہے۔ آپ سب خوش قسمت ہیں کہ آپ اس ادارے میں ہیں جو لوگو ں کے لئے آسانیاں پیدا کرتاہے۔ یہ کہانی روپے پیسے کی نہیں۔ بلکہ عوام کی خدمت کی ہے ۔میں آپ سے توقع کرتا ہوں کہ آپ عام آدمی سے اخلاق سے ملیں گے۔ آپ چہرے پر مسکراہٹ سے اسکا استقبال کریں تاکہ عام آدمی آپ کی تعریف کرے۔ اسی خدمت کے طرز پر آپ کو بہترین لباس میں ملبوس ہونا چاہئے۔ آپ کی تنخواہیں بہترین ہیں ۔فاضل چیف جسٹس نے کہا کہ قانون کے مطابق ملازمین کو کوٹہ کو بڑ ھائیں گے۔ ہمارے ساتھ ڈس ایبل ملازمین ہیں ہمیں ان کا خاص خیال رکھنا چاہئے۔ فاضل چیف جسٹس نے خواتین ملازمین کے لئے ڈے کئیر سنٹر کا اعلان بھی کیا ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ادارے میں جینڈر حساسیت بہت ضروری ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا ہائی کورٹ کو کرپشن فری بنائیں اور خیانت کرنے والے پر اللہ کی لعنت ہو۔ انہوں نے کیا کہ ملازمین بشمول خواتین کے استعداد کار کو بڑھانے کیلئے غیر ملکی ٹریننگ کے دائرہ کار کو بڑھایا جائے گا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ملازمین اپنی صحت پر توجہ دیں۔ صاف ستھرا کھانا کھائیں۔ اس کے لئے کیفے ٹیریا بنایاگیا ہے۔ میں نے بطور چیف جسٹس کھانے کے اوقات مقرر کیا۔ ہم سب فیملی کی طرح ہیں۔ کیفے ٹیریا میں آئیں اور کھانا کھائیں۔ کیفے ٹیریا میں آپ کے ساتھ بیٹھ کر کھانا کھائوںگا۔ جنوری کے پہلے ہفتے میں کیفے ٹیریا کا افتتاح کیا جائے گا۔ ڈرائیورز کی سہولت کے لئے ان کو موٹر سائیکل دی نائب قاصد کو بھی موٹرسائیکل دینے کا پلان ہے۔ ملازمین کیلئے ہائوسنگ کالونی بنانے کی کو شش کی جارہی ہے۔ ہم پولیس کی مدد سے اپنے ادارے کی سکیورٹی کیلئے مارشلز تیار کریںگے۔ یہ لنچ ملازمین نے چیف جسٹس لاہورہائی ہائیکورٹ کی طرف سے ملازمین کی فلاح کے لئے اٹھائے گئے اقدامات کو مدنظررکھتے ہوئے ترتیب دیا۔ اس سے پہلے جسٹس یاور علی نے کہا جو کام کرنے کی رفتار ، کام کی لگن اور بڑوں کی قدر میں نے ہائی کورٹ کے ملازمین میں دیکھی وہ کسی ادارے میں نہیں دیکھی۔ انہوں نے چیف جسٹس کو انکی جانب سے ملازمین کی فلاح کے لئے اٹھائے گئے اقدامات پر خراج تحسین پیش کیا۔ لنچ کی تقریب میں جسٹس مامون رشید شیخ، جسٹس امیر بھٹی، جسٹس عبد السمیع خان، جسٹس عابد عزیز شیخ، جسٹس شا ہدکریم، جسٹس علی اکبر قریشی، جسٹس شاہد بلال حسن،جسٹس جواد حسن اور جسٹس سردار اہمد نعیم موجود تھے۔ رجسٹرارلاہورہائی کورٹ سید خورشید انور رضوی اور ڈی ڈی جی ڈائریکٹوریٹ آف ڈسٹرکٹ جوڈیشری محمد اکمل خان بھی تقریب میں موجود تھے۔تقریب کے آخر میں ہائی کورٹ ملازمین کی جانب سے فاضل چیف جسٹس کو تلوار پیش کی گئی۔

لاہور (میڈیا نائن ٹو ڈاٹ ٹی وی )چیف جسٹس سید منصور علی شاہ 7رکنی وفد کے ہمراہ 12روزہ سرکاری دورے پر برطانیہ روانہ، جسٹس محمد یاور علی نے قائم مقام چیف جسٹس کے عہدے کا حلف اٹھا لیا۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق قائمقام چیف جسٹس لاہور ہائیکورٹ کی حلف برداری کی تقریب ہائیکورٹ لان میں ہوئی تقریب کا قومی ترانے بجایا گیا اور پھر آغاز تلاوت قرآن پاک سے کا گیا. حلف برداری کی تقریب میں اسٹیج سیکرٹری کے  فرائض  محمد اکمل  نے ادا کیےجسٹس انوار الحق نے جسٹس محمد یاور علی سے قائم مقام چیف جسٹس کے عہدے کا حلف  لیا۔ حلف برداری تقریب میں پرنسپل سیٹ پر کام کرنے والے فاضل جج صاحبان، صوبائی و وفاقی لاء افسران، سینئر وکلاء اور عدالت عالیہ کے افسران نے شرکت کی۔ حلف اٹھانے کے بعد قائمقام چیف جسٹس نے چیف جسٹس کے عہدہ کا پروٹوکول لینے سے انکار کردیا تاہم حلف برداری کے بعد روایات کے مطابق پولیس کے چاک وچوبند دستے نے فاضل قائم مقام چیف جسٹس کو سلامی پیش کی۔