Islamabad, (TLTP): Newly appointed Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan on Monday recused himself from representing the government in the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, citing a conflict of interest.
“The government has recommended the name of Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman to represent it in the Supreme Court,” he said. “I cannot represent the federation. I have already stated my opinion regarding the Justice Isa reference,” the AGP explained.
The AGP then asked the court to accept the government’s application for Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman to argue the case. “Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman has been preparing this case,” he told the court.
AAG Rehman on Friday last filed an application with the Supreme Court, stating that the hearing of the petition of Justice Isa as well as the identical petitions challenging the presidential reference fixed for February 24 may be adjourned for three weeks.
When the hearing resumed on Monday, the additional attorney general told the court that he would be abroad for some official task till March 20, and so the hearing should be set on a date after that.
Justice Ata Bandial, who is heading the 10-judge bench hearing the Justice Isa reference, said the court would give the government additional time to prepare for the case. He set the next date of hearing for March 30. “One of the judges of the bench will be away after March 20 and we will hear the case upon his return,” Justice Bandial said.
“The hearing would not be moved forward again, the government representative should be present in court on the given date,” Justice Bandial said. He further announced that the request for action against Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Nasim will also be heard on March 30.
The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Saturday last urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to “expel” Law Minister Farogh Naseem from the federal cabinet in the “larger national interest” after the controversy of remarks by former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan against Supreme Court judges.
“Your request has not been assigned a number,” Justice Bandial told PBC Vice Chairman Abbad Saqi.
“This is a case regarding the justice system’s freedom. If I have a notion that the case is against the justice system’s freedom, you will not see me here,” Attorney General Jawed told the court.
“We have no vested interest in this case,” the PBC vice chairman said.
Separately, Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem on Monday apologized to former attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor over his remarks against him.
Talking to the journalists outside the Supreme Court (SC), Farogh Naseem stated that Anwar Mansoor is like his elder brother and that he has withdrawn his remarks against him.
The law minister also said that he has no reservation over appointment of Barrister Khalid Jawed Khan as new AGP. “Neither am I resigning from my post as law minister nor have any reservations on the appointment of new AGP,” he said.
“Those who say that I have an objection on Khalid Javed’s appointment are basically raising questions on their credibility,” the law minister said.
On the other hand, AGP Khalid Javed also seconded the remarks from the law minister and said that he had a very kind relationship with Farogh Naseem’s father as he always defended him when questions are raised against him.
