Model Town report: LHC defers hearing of Punjab government's appeal against single bench's decree

A full bench of the Lahore High Court adjourned the hearing of an appeal of the Punjab government against decision of a single bench directing to public the inquiry report of Model Town incident to October 03 (today). Earlier, counsels of the respondents Azhar Siddique and Khawaja Tariq Raheem raised objection on Khawaja Haris as counsel of the government saying that under the Supreme Court's judgment, a private counsel cannot be hired for arguments on any petition or appeal of the government.
On this, Khawaja Haris told the bench that there is a proper procedure for hiring of a lawyer as private counsel. He said there was a certain reason because of which he was chosen as a private counsel to argue on the case. The bench asked him to furnish all documents regarding his hiring as private counsel.
In his arguments, Khawaja Haris questioned the jurisdiction of single bench comprising and asked why the petition was not sent to the full bench and why the government and law officers were not given opportunity of being heard. He argued that the petition should not have been decided by the single bench as the same matter was pending before the full bench for last two years.
The court when asked whether there was defect in the proceedings, Khawaja Haris said that it was illegal and added: "Full bench is seized with the matter while the single bench encroached upon." The counsel said the bench should have determined its jurisdiction first.
Earlier, a lawyer Ali Zia on behalf of a police official said, "If the report is released then he would be affected." On this, the respondents' lawyers said that it would not affect his right as the issuance of report was merely on the basis of peoples' right to information especially of those who were directly aggrieved by the Model Town incident. The bench, after hearing both the sides adjourned the proceedings for Tuesday (today).