President Supreme Court Bar Association Qazi Anwar on Tuesday returned the cheque of Rs 1 million to law minister Bar Awan, which he had received from him only a day ago, citing immense media pressure. The outgoing SCBA president, who will call it a day after a week, holding the cheque in his hands, which he had received from the minister with great pleasure yesterday (Monday), told journalists that he can not put his integrity at stake.
"The media has started a campaign against me for accepting the cheuqe, meant for the welfare of bar body's employees and I am going to return it to the minister as it is creating doubts about my credibility," he added. The minister, during his visit to SCBA office on MKonday, handed over a Rs 1 million cheque to Qazi Anwar, besides announcing of Rs 4 million grant for the SCBA library.
Later, while jointly addressing the media in the Supreme Court premises, the law minister had said that he has been provided an opportunity to sit together with his colleagues and to contribute to the welfare of the lawyers. To ease the case load of lower courts, he said, the law ministry has prepared a bill which will be sent to the SCBA for its perusal and suggestions, adding that the law ministry is not his personal estate and that he belonged to the lawyers' community.