Plea to US for fair trial in Pakistan: Supreme Court expresses displeasure at Hamesh's move

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed displeasure over application to US government by Hamesh Khan, former president of Bank of Punjab (BoP), who is principal accused in Rs 9 billion loan scam, seeking assurance of fair trial in Pakistan.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while addressing the counsel for Hamesh Khan, said: "Tell him to have confidence in this court". "You are telling the world that you do not expect a fair trial from the highest court of your country," observed Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday. "Why you are maligning your own country for petty personal interest?" he added.
Meanwhile, a Foreign Office representative told the court about having replied to the US embassy regarding its concern for safe custody and fair trial of Hamesh Khan in Pakistan. Earlier, Hamesh had filed an application requesting for assurance from the court to be produced before it without handcuffs.
In return, he had said that he would not contest his extradition. And, the court had assured that he would be given respect. A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday postponed hearing for May 14 after National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the bench that it was dispatching a team to bring Hamesh back on May 14. NAB Deputy Prosecutor Raja Amir told the bench that he himself was leaving for New York to bring Hamesh Khan back.
Khawaja Haris, counsel for BoP, informed the court that it had completed the process of documentation of properties of the accused family for recovery of money. He said the bank had constituted a committee for disposal of properties and the details about the committee would be given to the court on next date of hearing.