LAHORE: The Supreme Court of Pakistan sought a detailed report from the Lahore High Court over lawyers’ hooliganism at LHC principle bench and Multan during contempt proceedings against Multan Bar President Sher Zaman Qureshi.
Qureshi also filed a written apology at the start of the hearing.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and Justice Ejazul Ahsan issued the order on Qureshi’s appeal against the LHC order of issuing non-bailable warrants in a contempt case.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Rasheed A. Rizvi pleaded to suspend the operation of the arrest warrants. He said that lawyers had a great respect for judiciary; however, Qureshi did not want to appear before the LHC due to unavoidable circumstances.
Rizvi said Qureshi was not involved in the vandalism. He requested to drop contempt proceedings against Qureshi initiated by a full bench of Lahore High Court headed by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.
The bench observed whether the dignity of judiciary was not compromised by defying the court orders. It also observed that everyone was appearing before courts then why a lawyer could not appear.
The bench remarked that the dispute could have been settled at initial stage if Qureshi had appeared before the LHC and presents his point of view. Bench further remarked that if lawyers wanted to protect the justice system they should better respect court orders.
The bench said, “Law is equal for all; had Sher Zaman Qureshi appeared before LHC and informed it about his alleged role in attacking the courtroom then the matter would have been resolved. Such incidents are not appreciable.”
It directed the LHC registrar to submit a report and put of further hearing of the appeal till third week of October.
During the proceedings, the courtroom No 1 at the Lahore registry was jam-packed with lawyers. When the proceedings ended lawyers shouted slogans in Qureshi’s favour and showered him with rose petals.
A LHC bench had issued the non-bailable arrest warrants of Qureshi for his constant failure to appear on contempt notice issued to him with another colleague on charges of misbehaving on July 24 with LHC judge working at that time at Multan bench.
Earlier on two last hearings of the contempt matter, the Multan regional police officer had sought time from the bench to arrest and produce Qureshi.
The bench had deferred contempt hearing until September 8.
During the contempt proceedings on August 21, over a hundred lawyers protested on The Mall. They had also beaten up security personnel and broke the entry gate soon after the court issued Qureshi’s arrest warrants.
Various lawyer bodies, including the Pakistan Bar Council, had been trying to resolve the matter.
Published in Daily Times, September 7th 2017.
