The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have cancelled the tea party in honour of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in the Supreme Court Bar Room on Thursday (today) so that proceedings of the Full Supreme Court Bench are not interrupted.
As lead counsel for the chief justice, Aitzaz Ahsan, completed his arguments on the merits of the petition, the court invited lead counsel for the President, Sharifuddin Pirzada, to argue his case.
Instead of Pirzada, the counsel for the Federation, Malik Mohammad Qayyum, came to the dais and said that first he would make submissions and Mr Pirzada would wind up them at a later stage.
Qayyum argued since the PBC and the SCBA have invited Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry at tea at 11am on Thursday, therefore, it would be appropriate that the proceedings should be adjourned till Monday.
The presiding judge of the 13-member Full Supreme Court Bench, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, asked Mr Aitzaz to consider suggestion of Malik Qayyum as someone may not insult the government's counsel during the tea party in such a charged atmosphere.
Aitzaz said: "I assure the other side that dignity and honour of all advocates would be fully protected, and I would personally take them to the 30 minutes tea party during the break of the court proceedings.
Malik Qayyum did not accept Aitzaz's offer and insisted that the proceedings may be adjourned till next Monday as he has to prepare his case and seek instructions from his client (government).
After consulting PBC and SCBA leaders, Mr Aitzaz submitted that this important case should not be adjourned, and on behalf of the hosts and the CJ announced cancellation of the party on Thursday.
Mr Qayyum, however, again requested for adjournment of the case till Monday pleading he was not ready to argue the case and he had to seek instructions from the government.
Aitzaz said that he had been driving car of the CJ at a stretch for more than 26 hours on several occasions, still he had never sought adjournment and next he was on his feet to argue the petition.
An irritated Qayyum replied: "I would not argue the case on Thursday, and if the court does not adjourn the proceedings, we provide all the material and documents of the case, and the court decide the case. Justice Ramday said: "Malik Sahib, I wish the government had made this offer three months ago."
Aitzaz submitted: "But, would not make any offer." Justice Ramday remarked: "Without unavoidable circumstances, I do not adjourn a case just because the counsel was not prepared to argue his case, therefore, the court will reassemble on Thursday and the Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan can make his submissions".
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