Law officers of the federation throughout the country did not appear before superior courts (Supreme Court and High Courts) on Monday in the first half of proceedings as a mark of protest against the issuance of warning to Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) by a two-member bench of the apex court.
According to a press release issued by the office of the AGP here on Monday, on September 27 a case was being argued by two petitioners belonging to media namely Hamid Mir and Absar Alam. "The petitioners were not only wasting court's time but were stating incorrect facts and figures in the backdrop of the said controversy," said the press release. The AGP interjected by way of objection to draw the attention of the court to first row of a certain statement of account filed with the court wherein it was clearly mentioned that the total grant of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was around 400 million and not four billion as was being stated by the petitioners.
Thereupon one of the learned judges took serious note of it and admonished the AGP not to interrupt the proceedings. Whereupon the AGP clarified that he was only assisting the court so that correct facts are put before the court and that even otherwise the AGP has a right of audience being the first law officer of the country in terms of Article 100 of the Constitution.
A learned judge flared up even further and he reprimanded the AGP to take his seat, the release said. The AGP quietly took his seat but to his astonishment and that of the other law officers present in court, the learned judge began dictating an order thereby issuing a warning to the AGP.
This order of Supreme Court was totally uncalled for as the AGP was only assisting the court by pointing out the correct facts, the press release said. Moreover, the AGP is not only a lawyer but also Chairman Pakistan Bar Council, Member of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan which is the apex body for appointment of Supreme Court and High Court Judges, being the Principal Law Officer of the country enjoying the rank and status of a Federal Minister and also having a seat in the Senate and National Assembly with a Constitutional right to speak in the parliament.
It may be mentioned here that a few days back, the AGP's office (in response to a notice issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court) had pointed out to this very bench that it was entirely inappropriate for these judges to sit in the matter regarding Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, the press release ended.