SC fines AGP Rs20,000 for non-appearance

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday imposed Rs 20,000 fine on the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) for his failure to appear before the court despite repeated orders.

A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, issued the order while hearing appeals of lawmakers against their disqualification under Article 62(f) (1) of the Constitution.

During the course of proceedings, the chief justice inquired about the AGP. The Additional Attorney General (AAG) informed the court that the AGP was in Lahore.

The chief justice expressed displeasure, observing how the AGP could travel to Lahore without the court's permission as he was summoned to appear.

The AAG informed the bench that the AGP was scheduled to travel abroad on Tuesday. The apex court then fined the AGP Rs10,000.

Pleading to take back the fine, the AAG assured the bench that the AGP would appear in the court at 4:30pm, to which the chief justice agreed, stating that it was an important case.

Later in the day, the AAG informed the court that the AGP was unable to appear in the court today. The chief justice then ordered the AGP to appear in the court on Wednesday and also fined him Rs 20,000.

The court observed that the fine amount would be paid by the AGP personally, which would be donated to the Fatimid Foundation.

The case was adjourned till February 14.