ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed a reference to revisit the case of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and give its opinion on the death sentence awarded to Pakistan’s first directly elected prime minister.
The president signed the reference in the presence of Law Minister Babar Awan and Sindh Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza, under Article 186 of the Constitution. Secretary to President, Asif Hayat, and his spokesperson Farhatullah Babar were also present, a press release said.
Farhatullah Babar said that the reference would now be sent to the Supreme Court by the Law Ministry. Early this week, the federal cabinet authorised the president to send a reference to the Supreme Court on this subject, he said.
Article 186 of the Constitution states: (1) “If, at any time, the president considers that it is desirable to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on any question of law which he considers of public importance, he may refer the question to the Supreme Court for consideration.”
Clause 2 of the same article states: “The Supreme Court shall consider a question so referred and report its opinion on the question to the president.”
Farhatullah Babar said that the Pakistan People’s Party had never intended to seek revenge but it wanted to put right a historic wrong and thereby vindicate the position of the founding chairman of the party. app
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Strike against SC verdict in NAB chief case
CJP warns against collapse of system
* Chief justice acknowledges PPP’s efforts for strengthening institutions
* Court directs PPP leaders to submit written replies over contempt notices till 25th
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday asked the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh Secretary General, Taj Haider, and Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sharjeel Memon to submit their written replies over contempt of court notices till April 25.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad, Justice Mohammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing contempt of court case against Haider and Memon for criticising the court’s verdict in NAB chairman case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said strike observed against the apex court’s judgment leading to deaths of four persons in Sindh could not be attributed to PPP, as it never adhered to such practices. “SC wants continuation of the current democratic system,” he said.
CJP acknowledged PPP’s efforts for strengthening institutions and reminded the PPP leaders that such steps would lead the system towards collapse.
The court also directed the Sindh government to compensate the deceased families and point out the real perpetrators.
Taking strict notice of the March 11 violence-ridden strike in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, the SC issued notices to Taj Haider and Sharjeel Inam Memon on March 26 for ridiculing and bringing into disrepute the apex court’s judgment regarding disqualification of Justice (r) Deedar Hussain Shah as NAB chairman.
The CJP said during the hearing that it was not something personal. “In fact, it is a matter of the honour of the court,” he said, adding, “Everyone knows what will happen if the system is not run collectively. ”
Justice Sair Ali said the court was always reluctant to invoke Article 204 of the constitution relating to contempt of court and Section 3 of Contempt of the Court Ordinance, 2003.
He said this was painful but this was one of those cases where the court had no choice but to issue the contempt notices.
The CJP said that on TV channels and other forums the SC judgments are criticised, adding there should be fair criticism, but abusing the court was ‘shameful’ and problematic.
Haider and Memon informed the court that they have received the reports few days ago and prayed that they should be given two months to file replies to the notices. The CJP said they could be granted two weeks only.
Haider informed the court that the provincial government was investigating the case and making efforts to arrest the abettors and perpetrators.
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