SHC CJ refuses to discuss May 12 with governor

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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SHC CJ refuses to discuss May 12 with governor
By AR Qureshi

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan called on Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday with the intention of discussing the violence in Karachi on May 12, but the judge refused because the issue is sub-judice.

The governor remained with the chief justice for about an hour. Sindh Advocate General Anwar Mansoor Khan, who accompanied the governor, told Daily Times that the governor’s entourage comprised Qazi Khalid Ali and himself. The meeting, which was held in the chief justice’s chambers, was also attended by Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Amir Hani Muslim, he said.

The president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, Abrar Hussain, who was invited along with honorary secretary Shaikh Munirur Rahman, also attended the meeting, which took place during a tea break.

The governor came at about 10:40am and remained there till 11:40am, Abrar Hussain told the press in a briefing soon after the meeting. The governor intended to talk about the May 12 incidents but the chief justice requested him not to as a larger bench of the SHC was hearing a suo moto action later converted into a constitutional petition on the matter. Besides this, another full bench was hearing contempt of court proceedings and thus the matter should not be dwelt upon, the governor was told. He was also informed that judges in those benches were not at the meeting.

Later the meeting discussed ‘legal education’ in Sindh, the SHCBA president said.

According to sources, earlier, a meeting of all the judges of the SHC available in Karachi was held from 8:40am to 9:30am. The judges discussed the governor’s visit and may have decided that judges hearing the cases against government officials stay away from the meeting between the governor and the chief justice, Abrar Hussain said.

When asked about a rumour that the governor’s visit was in connection with a statement made by the chief minister on Monday, Abrar Hussain said: “In my personal opinion, the statement by the Sindh chief minister was ridiculous,” The suo moto meant that the court wants to find the real culprits behind the May 12 incidents, he said.

Daily Times learnt that at the unscheduled meeting of judges on Wednesday morning, during which court work remain halted, the judges decided not to meet any executive official. A fortnight ago, SHC judges also decided against attending any oath-taking ceremony or otherwise at Governor House.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\05\31\story_31-5-2007_pg1_2

SHC leading the way. :Salute: :clap:

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Re: SHC CJ refuses to discuss May 12 with governor

KARACHI: Governor reaches out to SHC](http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/31/local1.htm)

  • By Shujaat Ali Khan*

    KARACHI, May 30: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan called on Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday morning in what is being seen by observers as a [gubernatorial](http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/gubernatorial)attempt at fence-mending.

The executive-judiciary relations have come under considerable strain by the incidents of May 12, the contempt proceedings instituted by lawyers against top government officials, and ill-advised remarks attributed to Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim about the suo motu proceedings initiated by the SHC into the blockade of court premises and maltreatment of lawyers.

Taking notice of the incidents, a full court meeting of the SHC decided on May 21 that the chief justice would not henceforth officiate as provincial governor in the incumbent’s absence.

An official press release described the half-hour “informal and cordial meeting” as continuation of the contacts being made by the governor to clear the air in the aftermath of the May 12 incidents. Justices Rahmat Hussain Jafferi and Amir Hani Muslim, Sindh High Court Bar Association President Abrar Hasan, Advocate-General Anwar Mansoor Khan and Additional Advocate-General Qazi Khalid Ali were also present at the meeting.

The estrangement between the executive and judicial organs was reflected in the press briefing given by the SHCBA president after the meeting. While the governor’s spokesman had to deny that he was “summoned” by the court, Mr Hasan said the CJ and judges earlier turned down an invitation to the Governor’s House.

** He said the governor had expressed his desire to meet the judges and CJ on Tuesday evening but was told that he would be welcome to see them in the high court.** The CJ asked the SHCBA chief to attend the meeting at 10.30am on Wednesday.

** A full court meeting was held earlier in the day and it decided that the judges conducting the suo motu proceedings and contempt case hearing would not meet the governor. There would be no discussion on the May 12 incidents or related matters, the full court decided,** according to Mr Hasan. The subsequent meeting was held in accordance with the full court decision, he said. Among the judges who stayed away were the senior puisnejudge, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, and seven other judges seized of the suo motu and contempt matters.

According to AAG Qazi Khalid, who accompanied the governor along with the AG, among the topics generally discussed were grant of autonomous status to the Sindh Judicial Academy and other matters pertaining to legal education. The construction of additional building blocks in the SHC premises also came up for discussion briefly.

At his press conference later, the SHCBA chief appreciated the reported full court decision against the assumption of acting governor’s office by the chief justice. He said the decision had been taken in the interest of adjudication of cases but was welcome from another angle.

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Re: SHC CJ refuses to discuss May 12 with governor

Humuliation and frustration for MQM!

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Re: SHC CJ refuses to discuss May 12 with governor

As they say cat has fallen well among the piegons!