Judges Case: SC Reserves Decision on Objection

ISLAMABAD, News Trends: Supreme Court Friday reserved its decision over the Dr Abdul Basit Advocate’s objection over the bench in PCO Judges contempt case and adjourned the hearing till Monday.

Dr. Abdul Basit during the hearing said that his clients have objection over inclusion of Justice Sair Ali, Justice M.A. Shahid Siddiqui and Justice Tariq Pervez in the bench.

The court reserved its decision on the bench.

The counsel said that the contempt proceedings could not be held against the superior judiciary judges. He further said that the civil and military officials also committed contempt of the Supreme Court verdict of Nov. 03, 2007; legal action should also be taken against them.

SC reserves verdict on PCO judges case

The Supreme Court on Friday reserved its ruling in contempt of court case involving PCO judges.

Dr. Abdul Basit, counsel of Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi and Justice Hasnat, again objected to the formation of the bench hearing his client’s petition. Dr. Basit said that Justice Sair Ali, Justice Shahid Siddiqi and Justice Tariq Parvez should not sit on this bench.He argued that an attempt was made to evacuate Dr. Shahid Siddiqis house and this order was related to the bench, which comprised of Justice Hasnat and Justice Shabar Raza Rizvi. Justice Shahid Siddiqi denied that the High Court had ordered to vacate the house, adding that the court had barred the administration from any such action.
The PCO judges were facing contempt charges for taking oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) in defiance of a restraining order issued by a seven-judge Supreme Court bench on November 3, 2007, moments after the proclamation of emergency by former president Pervez Musharraf.

Habib Jalib laid to rest after funeral prayers

QUETTA: Secretary General of Balochistan National Party (BNP) Habib Jalib, who was assassinated Wednesday morning in a firing incident, has been laid to rest here in his ancestral graveyard.

The deceased’s funderal prayer was held near the above graveyard and attended by leaders and workers of BNP besides representatives of various nationalist, political, religious and other parties including Pushtoonkhwa Mili Awami Party, National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Hazara Democratic Party. Lawyers and a large number of people belonging to different walks life were also present.

Imam of a local mosque lead the funeral prayers.

Leaders a various political and nationalist parties also addressed the gathering on the occasion and paid rich tributes to Habib Jalib Baloch for his services rendered in the realm of politics. They strongly condemned the killing of the BNP leader and demanded that the culprits be brought to justice.

CJP warns bar, bench not to lose earned respect

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Wednesday said people are looking towards bar and bench for resolution of their issues.

Talking to a delegation of District Bar Association Bannu that called on him here, the CJP warned the bench and bar not to let mutual disputes and strikes take away the respect earned.

Terming the bar and bench as important elements in the process of dispensation of justice, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry advised that the bench and bar should bridge their differences immediately without resorting to come out on streets.

The lawyers delegation also briefed the CJP about the hardships being faced due to not having a bench of Peshawar High Court.

Pepco withdraws new power tariff

LAHORE: Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Thursday withdrew split power tariff for day and night, which was announced earlier in the evening, Geo News reported.

MD Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema denied reports regarding power tariff hike and said there was no change in day and night tariff.

Geo’s initiative forced the Pepco to withdraw the decision, which would have only added to the miseries of the common men.

Earlier in the day, DG Pepco Mohammad Khalid announced the increase.

The new power tariff structure was split into peak hours and off-peak hours categories for the consumers of 5 kilowatts. The day time was set as off-peak hours category while the night time was set as peak hours category.

The rates for peak hours were fixed at Rs 11.77 per unit and Rs 7.18 per unit for the off-peak hours.

PCO judges” plea dismissed

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed constitutional review pleas of a number of those judges who had taken oath under Provisional Constitutional Ordinance on November 3, 2007, against orders of its Registrar office jurisdiction to place objections.

A five-member bench comprising Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Jawwad S. Khawja, Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi and Justice Tariq Parvez dismissed the plea after Dr Abdul Basit, the counsel for former judges, contended that first, he wanted a written order on his preliminary objection to presence of two judges of the bench who had recused on last hearing.

Dr Abdul Basit resuming his arguments said that when a judge recused himself from a case, he could not join a review.

He said without deciding the preliminary objection, it would be a partisan approach to the issue especially after insertion of Article 10-A in the Constitution through 18th Amendment which strongly stressed upon right to fair trial.

He requested the bench to decide the matter of objections placed on their pleas by the Registrar office.

Justice Nasir ul Mulk told him that they had noted down his point and he could proceed on merits of the case.

He maintained that after decision on their pleas, the Court could proceed in contempt matters.

Dr Basit said that after decision against PCO judges those fellow judges were served with contempt notices under Section 204 of the Contempt of Court Act 1976 instead Section 209.

He said under Article 204 of the Constitution read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Contempt Act, the Registrar office returned their pleas against which he raised his objections.

“Our fault was that we had taken oath as judges which was prerequisite. We have followed the principle laid down in Zafar Ali Shah case in which it had been held that it would be fault on part of a judge to perform his duties without taking an oath of the office,” he added.

Taking to media personnel after proceedings he said that the Office could not impinge upon his right of appeal and the institutional branch could not perform functions of judicial officers.

Basit said that institutional branch had returned its constitutional plea with objections that he had already availed that remedy.

He said that judicial powers could be exercised by the concerned officers and not by administrative side.

The pleas were filed by former Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry former CJ LHC, Justice Hasnat Ahmed Khan, Justice Syed Shabbar Raza and Justice Syed Hamid Ali Shah.

Hearing review petitions filed by PCO judges affected by the apex court”s July 31 verdict, a 14-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had served contempt of court notices upon those judges after observing that they had violated its earlier order and tried to violate the Constitution therefore, liable for contempt of court.

The contempt of court notices were served upon 60 judges of the Lahore, Peshawar and Sindh high courts. A number of them had rendered unconditional apology and resigned from their posts.

SC Hands Over Bop Scam Probe To DG FIA

Supreme Court on Thursday handed over the ongoing inquiry in Punjab Bank’s loan scam to DG FIA, and adjourned the hearing to June 11.

The three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday resumed the hearing of Rs 9 billion Bank of Punjab loan scam case.

During the hearing of the case the court summoned Naveed Ahsan, Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and Tariq Khosa, Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), when an application was filed against Mushrraf-era Minister for State, Rais Munir, for taking loan of Rs 112 million against fake guarantees.

The CJ observed that the scam should be investigated transparently as the law minister and few other senior lawyers have been accused of taking bribes in the case, while it also involves a federal secretary.

“The scam involves more than 9 billion rupees and should be taken seriously and transparent investigation must be conducted,” CJ was quoted as saying.

Khosa informed the bench that the government or any other authority could not interfere in the investigations being carried out by the NAB or FIA. He said he needs guarantee for his security, nor for his service, when the court asked him to lead the investigation.

Later, DG FIA agreed to take the reins of scam’s investigation upon which the court ordered Chairman NAB to make a summary in this regard which he presented before the bench.

The two officials were also ordered to have a meeting on the scam later sometime and present its minutes to the bench.

$30 billion package to generate Jobs by Barak Obama

The president of US Barak Obama has called on parliament to pass $30 billion package. He asks the package for the small businesses. By facilitating small businesses jobs can be created. He also gave a Job plane in February this year but he was criticize for it as the plane doesn’t work as it was expected.

Obama said that he is demanding the house to pass this bill as soon as possible. As early as proposal will accept, the chances of jobs will increase.

The bill was supported but few people in the house and it doesn’t have republican support with it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the legislation will soon be presented in parliament for approval.

Barak Obama meets Republican leader on Tuesday and exchange his view to minimize unemployment. Unemployment rate in US is 9.9%.

According to plane the government will inject money in the banks in independent way. It will be encourage that small businesses take loan as only with providing facility to small businesses jobs can be created. As election season is approaching so Obama administration is focusing on the public related issues. The plane is good and for the benefits of the people. Lets see whether it will get approval of parliament or not?

Preview: England need to re-establish credentials

CAPE TOWN: England face Algeria on Friday with bigger issues at stake than whether they can beat the north Africans to regain control of World Cup Group C.

If Fabio Capello”s team have any ambitions of advancing beyond their usual quarter-final terminus then beating Algeria, who lost 1-0 to Slovenia in their opener, must be a given.

England have never lost to African opposition but their manager must still answer the many questions swirling around his team and find a way to get his forwards scoring goals.

With top spot in the group likely to be decided on goal difference, and the runners-up set to face Germany in the second round, England need a big win to put them back on course for an easier last 16 meeting with Ghana, Serbia or Australia.

Their opening 1-1 draw with a well-organised United States team, particularly seen in the context of so many other major nations” stuttering starts, was not a terrible result.

But while Franz Beckenbauer”s claim that England have “gone backwards into the bad old days of kick and rush” seems harsh, their Italian manager does have to get his players back to the constructive approach that saw them cruise through qualifying.

Already missing injured captain Rio Ferdinand, England are now without his replacement Ledley King for Friday”s game – and possibly the tournament — with Jamie Carragher set to step in.

He came off the bench to replace King at halftime against the U.S. and formed a vocal, tough-tackling but far-from-pacy centre back partnership with former England captain John Terry.

Behind them Capello seems likely to keep faith with goalkeeper Robert Green, whose blunder handed Clint Dempsey the Americans” equaliser — though David James could come in.

BARRY RECALL

The manager will be delighted to be able to recall Gareth Barry, one of his favourites, to a holding role in midfield, pushing Steven Gerrard out to the left with licence to attack.

Up front, for all Wayne Rooney”s undoubted talents, he has not scored an international goal since last September, while Emile Heskey”s return of seven in 59 games tells its own story.

Peter Crouch, who came on as a substitute against the US, said that Capello was emphasising the positives.

“He told us he saw things in the first game that were encouraging and he has taken them and told us we should still believe in ourselves and what we are doing,” said the tall striker with an international return of 21 goals in 39 games.

“Hopefully, we will go on and do a lot better from now on,” he added. “We all know that and we have to make sure we get it right, starting against Algeria.”

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane is also set to stand behind his keeper Faouzi Chaouchi, after he allowed a speculative shot by Robert Koren to squeeze past him, giving Slovenia the points.

Having lost the match they targeted as their best chance for a win, Algeria are bracing themselves for a tough onslaught.

“They (England) are a super team, as I”ve said, among the favourites,” said Saadane. “It”s going to be a very, very difficult match for us but we have nothing to lose.”

Saadane is without Abdelkader Ghezzal, suspended for a red card after coming off the bench in the opener, but said he does not plan widespread changes, with 24-year-old midfielder Adlane Guedioura a possible starter to add dynamism going forward.

Robben on bench as Dutch take on Danish

JOHANNESBURG: Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk named Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben on the bench as the Netherlands opened their World Cup campaign against Denmark on Monday.

The 26-year-old tore his left thigh muscle in a warm-up game nearly ten days ago, but although he has returned to training with the Oranje, van Marwijk opted to keep the winger on the bench for the Group E clash at Soccer City.

The Dutch still boast a strong forward line with striker Robin van Persie of Arsenal supported by a midfield attack of Inter Milan”s Wesley Sneijder, Liverpool”s Dirk Kuyt and Real Madrid”s Rafael van der Vaart.

Despite doubts over his fitness, Danish coach Morten Olsen gave a start to Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner, who has not played since May with a groin injury.

But both forward Jon Dahl Tomasson and midfielder Daniel Jensen failed to make the starting line-up after picking up minor injuries over the weekend.

Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg – Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni van Bronckhorst (capt.) – Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong – Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart – Robin van Persie.

Coach: Bert van Marwijk

Denmark: Thomas Sorensen – Simon Poulsen, Simon Kjaer, Daniel Agger, Lars Jacobsen – Christian Poulsen, Martin Jorgensen (capt.), Thomas Kahlenberg, Thomas Enevoldsen – Dennis Rommedahl, Nicklas Bendtner

Coach: Morten Olsen

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (FRA)

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