Shahzain Bugti bail plea hearing put off

QUETTA: Balcohistan High Court (BHC) adjourned on Tuesday the hearing of a bail plea filed by detained Baloch leader Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti in illegal arms case.

The court will now resume the hearing on Wednesday.

The counsel for Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) leader Shahzain Bugti had submitted the bail plea in BHC on Monday.

During the hearing, Prosecutor General sought more time to study the case, saying he did not get the relevant record.

The court then adjourned the hearing for one day.

Later, Bugti’s lawyer told newsmen that his client is a patient of blood pressure and that his bail denial could pose a life threat. TrendPK

ICC Rejects Sulman Butt’s Reply

International cricket council rejected the reply of former test captain of Pakistan Sulman Butt on the match fixing and spot fixing allegations and asked the suspended Pakistan player to file a fresh response within 24 hours. ICC has refused to accept the reply of charge sheet from of Sulman Butt and his legal team and asked to submit a fresh reply of charge sheet. Now the lawyer of Sulman Butt Barrister Atzaz Ahsan prepared and submitted the amended reply of charge sheet through Sulman’s Indian origin lawyer in London Yaseen Patel.

On Thursday ICC returned the 40-pages reply filed by Sulman’s lawyers. The investigating body of ICC anti-corruption unit said that “the reply is not acceptable to them and it was just enough to reject the allegations made against him by ICC anti-corruption unit”. The legal team of Sulman Butt has termed that on 2 September decision of sustentation of their client and other two players was an illegal act of ICC.

The Legal team also questioned to ICC that more then three months have passed since the sustention was imposed and yet ICC is not reached at any decision. According to ICC rules and regulations the decision of any corruption case should be come within three months, in this regards ICC is violating its own terms.

In this reply the suspended captain has also expressed his no-confidence in Michael Beloff who heads the code of conduct commission and ICC Chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat. Sulman said that he expects no justice from the ICC tribunal that will hear his case on 6 January. It is to be noted that Haroon Lorgat on 6 December, given the statement that he would be disappointed if Pakistani cricketers implicated in the spot-fixing scandal are found not guilty.

The legal team of Sulman But had given examples to ICC of past cases of match-fixing in Pakistan cricket in this regard the case of former captain Waqar Younis has been mentioned as he was among the players fined and is now coach of the Pakistan team. In other two references the cases of two more former Pakistani players were described, the case of spinner Mushtaq Ahmed who paid his fine is now assistant coach of the English team and Akram Raza, after paying fine, now umpiring in Pakistan domestic cricket.

Sulman Butt is in deep frustration after the rejection of his reply from ICC tribunal. On the other hand Sulman’s lawyers have advised the former captain to appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sports after the ICC rejected a response filed by the suspended player.

Bappi Lahiri sends legal notice to producers of Toonpur Ka Superrhero

The trend of controversies surrounding Bollywood films continues. This time, its Ajay Devgn’s animation film called Toonpur Ka Superrhero that is in the eye of a controversy.

The famous music director Bappi Lahiri, has sent a legal notice to the producers of Toonpur Ka Superrhero, stating that one of the characters in the film (named ‘Guppy’) resembles him not just in name, but also the way he looks. The legal notice was sent by Bappi’s lawyer S. Mandal, which states, amongst other things that “…the movie Toonpur Ka Superhero has a character named ‘Guppy’ on the lines of our client right down to the multiple gold chains. The name of the character based on our client is ‘Guppy’ which is also similar to his name as well as visually and physically similar to the personal/appearance of our client… it’s evident that our client’s persona has been portrayed in a derogatory manner and it is… a clear attempt on the part of you addressees to misuse our client’s persona in order to portray wrong picture of our client to the public at large. It is stated by our client that the said portrayal… is a derogatory and demeaning way of presenting him.”

The film’s producers however state that there is nothing derogatory about the character in the film and that they respect Bappi Da. Their legal team is looking into the issue and the producers are also ready to show the film to Bappi Lahiri is need be.

SC starts hearing on PCO judges’ petition

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Defending PCO judges in contempt of court case, Advocate Ali Zafar has argued that a High Court judge is not bound to take advice from the Supreme Court.

A five-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Sair Ali is hearing this case.

Justice Yasmin Abbasi’s counsel Ali Zafar said that his client had not received a restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on November 3, 2007.

“Even if my client had received this order, she was not bound to abide by it as this was merely interim advice,” he said.

He said that High Court judges are not bound to abide by apex court’s advice.

Referring to Zafar Ali Shah’s case, he argued that PCO oath was not unconstitutional.

The ruling given by the 12-member bench in Zafar Ali Shah’s case could not be struck down by a seven-judge bench, he added. Trend Pk

Fake lawyer arrested in Lahore

Staff Report

LAHORE: A fraudulent lawyer was arrested on Monday from the premises of Lahore High Court (LHC) on charges of illegal law practice and a valid degree.

According to reports, the accused, Tanvir Ahmed, has been practicing law for the past 15 years.

Moments before he was to represent his client in a case before the court, his opposition alleged that Tanvir Ahmed was not a law graduate.

To verify the allegations, fellow lawyers asked Ahmed a few questions. He failed to give satisfactory answers and admitted that he was practicing law without a degree.

He was handed over to police. SAMAA

Aamer ”cleverer than I was at 18”: Wasim

LONDON: Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram believes new pace sensation Mohammad Aamer is “much cleverer than I was at 18″ after watching the teenage quick”s latest impressive Test display..

Aamer, like Wasim a left-arm seamer, took four wickets for 72 runs as he led Pakistan”s attack in the ongoing first Test against Australia here at Lord”s in his first Test at the ”home of cricket”.

After seeing Aamer wrap up Australia”s first innings on Wednesday by bowling tailender Doug Bollinger with an inswinging yorker, an admiring Wasim told media: “It was exciting to watch Aamer bowl so well at Lord”s.

“He is a special talent and has pace, nip and can swing the ball both ways which is ideal for a paceman, and augurs well for his future.

Aamer has risen by leaps and bounds to become Pakistan”s spearhead since making his debut last year and served further notice of his enormous potential with another impressive display at Lord”s.

His efforts, ably supported by pace partner Mohammad Asif (three for 63), helped a new-look Pakistan team dismiss Australia for 253 on the second day of the first of two Tests that have both been moved to England because of security fears in Pakistan.

The 18-year-old Aamer”s pace, swing and exuberance have already led experts to compare Aamer with Wasim, widely regarded as the best left-arm fast bowler ever to have played international cricket.

But Wasim said Aamer was already ahead of him in one respect.

“He is much cleverer than when I was 18,” said Wasim who took ten wickets in his only second Test, against New Zealand at Dunedin in 1984.

“Aamer has got a head start and is a quick learner, so I see no reason why he can”t go on to become a leading fast bowler.

“He is already spearheading the Pakistan pace attack and watching him bowl (on Tuesday), everything pitched up, banging in every delivery and testing the best batsmen in the world excited me no end.”

Wasim though advised Aamer to bowl closer to the stumps.

“What I noticed at Lord”s and in the series in Australia (wrapped up earlier this year where Aamer starred despite Pakistan”s 3-0 Test campaign defeat) is that he bowls wide of the crease.

“That may help the ball to come in (to right handers), but on slower tracks it won”t work, so he needs to bowl closer to the stumps,” Wasim explained.

“Some people say his physique is not that of a fast bowler, but he is only 18. He can strengthen his muscles with time and I am sure he will spend more time in the gym,” said Wasim, who took 414 Test and 502 one-day wickets — both Pakistani records.

“I have not seen him recently but I”m always happy to meet him and pass on a few tips.” Wasim hoped Aamer”s experience of England pitches with the Pakistan Under-19 team in 2007 would come in handy.

“Aamer took quite a few wickets when he toured England with the Under-19 team in 2007, so I think he will be very useful on this tour, with four Tests against England as well, and lead Pakistan to wins.”

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja also praised Aamer”s progress.

“I think Aamer is more mature than Wasim at 18,” said Raja, in England as a television commentator. “Aamer”s progress augurs well for Pakistan and I hope he continues to work hard and take the Pakistan team forward.”

Aamer was on Wednesday warned about his future conduct by match referee Chris Broad after he collided with Australia captain Ricky Ponting while celebrating his wicket in the first Test at Lord”s.

Each article of Constitution be implemented, urges CJ

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry said the Constitution is a living document; hence, its every article should be put into practice, Geo News reported Wednesday.

A larger SC bench comprising 17 judges is currently hearing various identical petitions against certain clauses of the 18th Amendment, including the limits of parliament’s right to amend the Constitution.

Giving remarks, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said there is a Public Service Commission for the appointments above 17 grade; but contrarily, the Parliament has been authorized to appoint judges.

He added, ‘The Parliament is respected; however, the issue relating the judges’ appointment will have to be looked into.’

Relief efforts continue at Makran, Sindh coasts

KARACHI: Balochistan Chief Minister, Nawab Aslam Raeesani, along with Commander Coast Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar and Chairman National Disaster Management Authority visited cyclone affected areas of Gwadar, Pasni and Turbat.

An ISPR (Navy) press release issued here said that the Chief Minister, on board PN helicopter, took an aerial view of the cyclone affected areas and reviewed relief operations being undertaken by Pakistan Navy in collaboration with civil administration.

Earlier, three Pakistan Navy aircraft carried 1,800 kilograms of medicines, 10 large size de-flooding pumps and 600 chicks (doorway curtains) to Gwadar for the cyclone-affectees.

Relief goods are being delivered by PN aircraft and helicopters to the areas which are humanly inaccessible due to rain water.

PN Ship Zulfiquar has already reached Gwadar with 55 tonnes of dry ration and relief goods.

A PN truck also left here today carrying 4,000 kg relief goods for cyclone-hit creek areas of Sindh.

PNS Shahjahan is also on its way carrying relief goods for cyclone affectees.

A PN aircraft has also reached Karachi from Gwadar on Tuesday, carrying 18 serious patients for medical treatment at PNS Shifa.

The patients include six serious delivery cases. PN Special Services Group team is also undertaking salvage operation of sunken fishing boats at Gwadar and Pasni.

Load shedding resumes as shortfall increases

LAHORE: The power shortfall has been increased once again and reaches to 1405 MW.

According to spokesman PEPCO, the power generation is 12586 MW whereas demand has been reached to 13991 MW. The shortfall of 1405 MW forced to resume load shedding for 3 to 5 hours in urban and 8 hours in rural areas. Several IP have been shut down to save furnace oil and non-availability of gas, he added.

BoP accused Hamesh remanded for 14 days

LAHORE: A local court handed over the main accused in Punjab Bank scandal case Himesh Khan to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on 14 days physical remand, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Khan was presented before the court under strict security arrangements. An Accountability Court here ordered to present the accused Hamesh Khan on June 23.

Barrister Mehmood lawyer of Himesh Khan, told the court that Supreme Court had allowed Himesh Khan to meet lawyers instead of that, first officials used to sit with him and now NAB official keeps the photocopies of lawyers’ notes with them. This is violation of court orders.

While talking to media, Barrister Mehmood said that NAB officials could not get any evidence against Himesh Khan after his 26 days remand. Now they are trying to find out any proof by our photocopied notes.

“Himesh Khan is innocent,” he added.

Khan’s lawyer said his client’s remand has stretched to five weeks now, but NAB has so far been unable to provide evidence that would prove him guilty.

On the other hand, advocates for NAB informed the court of several positive developments in the case and the unearthing of other scandals associated to the Bank of Punjab.

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