Former Attorney General (AG) Latif Khan Khosa on Wednesday harangued against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for his unceremonious removal from the Law Ministry and requested the CJ to rescue himself from hearing his case. "Your party is in the government ask them regarding your removal" observed the Chief Justice.
After an exchange of harsh words, the court directed former AG and Advisor to the PM Latif Khosa to submit his reply within two weeks and issued notices to Latif Khosa's munshi Umer Daraz, Deputy Attorney General Dil Muhammad Alizai and Advocate Mian Tariq.
Latif Khan Khosa was sacked a few days ago after allegations of corruption on a complaint lodged by Hamid Shah. The complaint alleged that the former AG received Rs 3 million as bribe extended to Supreme Court judges to get a verdict of his choice. The court had summoned former AG to an open court hearing.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry turned down dethroned Khosa's request for an in-camera proceeding with the observation that 'since finger has been raised on the judges, therefore, everyone should know about the proceedings.' "If we cannot defend the judiciary, then we have no right to be part of the bench", the CJ further remarked.
"If the Chief Justice wants to score his points, then what can we do?" said Latif Khosa. Do not say it again, what we are doing is within the ambit of the law, responded the Chief Justice. Latif Khosa categorically rejected the allegations of corruption and said that "I have been associated with this profession for the last 40 years and have represented the Bar Council but never indulged in such malpractice."
I am insulted by fake allegations and my family has suffered a lot because of defamation, Khosa added. If charges against you are not proved, we would have the complainant arrested from the court room, however, if you are found guilty, then action would be taken against you, observed a bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.
While defending his position, Khosa evoked his own participation in the lawyers' movement for restoration of the sacked judges saying "I was the first person who gave blood". At that time you had contacted me through Saeed Khursheed, he added. Khosa referred to a lawyers' function hosted by Punjab Bar Council (PBC) in Lahore that was held after restoration of the deposed judges of superior courts when angry lawyers welcomed him (Khosa) with shoes in their hands and said "you were responsible for that insult to me, you kept on smiling and did not utter a single word".
"You are talking about restoration saga, everyone knows how the judges were reinstated", replied the Chief Justice adding that Khosa confine himself to responding to the corruption charges. I will engage a lawyer, as you did when you were removed, said Latif Khosa while addressing the Chief Justice. Representatives of People's Lawyers Forum (PLF) gathered outside the court and chanted slogans in favour of former Attorney General Latif Khosa.
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