Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad requested the Supreme Court (SC) to adopt judicial restraint as a political settlement regarding the ongoing crisis will unfold next week.
During the hearing by five-judge bench – headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Nasirul Mulk – on Friday, he informed the top court that dialogue between protesting parties and the government is currently underway. He added that some of the major sticking points to finding a solution have been dealt with and expressed optimism that the talks would achieve positive results.
“The ball will be in your court next week”, he said, adding that both sides should be given the opportunity to reach a political settlement.
As a result, the court adjourned the hearing until September 10. The SC directed the political parties to file comprehensive replies regarding any extra-constitutional steps taken in the current scenario.
Meanwhile, Iftikhar Gilani – counsel for parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) – requested the top court to initiate contempt proceedings against the leadership of both parties as they are not implementing the court’s orders for free movement on Constitution Avenue.
Unexplained absences
While the chief justice insisted that the issues should be resolved politically, the bench expressed concern over the absence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s leading counsel Hamid Khan during the proceedings.
Similarly, Justice Saqib raised questions over the absence of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)’s leading counsel Ali Zafar. He added that the PTI’s counsel has an important role to play for the supremacy of law in the country and should have attended the hearing
Interestingly, Advocate Yousuf Khosa appeared on behalf of the PTI and said he would henceforth represent the party in this case.
Ongoing protests
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed that the court is hearing 11 petitions over ongoing protests.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i- Islami (JI)’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan expressed apprehensions that a situation that is similar to November 3, 2007 is likely to emerge.
However, the bench reassured him that they have passed a restraining order to avoid any extra-constitutional step.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2014.