Courts not against anyone: CJP Iftikhar
19 July, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Wednesday observed that the courts had to strike a balance during proceedings and ensure that they do not go against anyone. Heading a three-judge bench in the contempt of court case against FIA Lahore Deputy Director Waqar Haider, he said the impression that the law would not be applied to the influential was not correct. He observed that everyone had to abide by the law. During the course of proceedings, Tariq Ahsan, counsel for Haider, pleaded that his client's plea for clemency should be accepted as it was based upon bonafide stance. He said his client had regretted and wanted clemency. The chief justice told the counsel that his client had disobeyed the court's directions in the NICL case and it was his attitude that had landed him in trouble. "We have tolerated such attitude so much and now will not endure it any more," he added. Haider apprised the bench that the court's orders regarding Zeeshan Afzal, an accused in a land grabbing case, were implemented. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that no efforts were made for 27 days. The chief justice observed that his clemency plea was not accepted. Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan Dil Muhammad Alizai appeared before the court and said that the officer had flouted the court's orders and was liable to be dealt with in accordance with the law. However, on request of Haider's counsel, the hearing was adjourned until July 30. On June 13, the court had indicted Haider over contempt of court charges, after declaring that he had created hurdles in the way of justice by not allowing Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, the former FIA investigation officer probing the NICL case upon court's directives, to enter the FIA office in Lahore. End.
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