Reference against judge: SC bench urged to adjourn case

Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the provincial bar councils have filed separate applications for adjournment of the case related to petitions against presidential reference against the apex court judge. A nine-member bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday last deferred the case until October 28 as one of the members of the bench was not available due to a death in his family.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa, SCBA, Punjab and Balochistan Bar Councils on Tuesday filed separate applications for adjournment. They have contended that the annual elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association are scheduled to be held on 31-01-2019.

All the advocates of the apex court throughout Pakistan, including the counsel in these petitions, are involved with the election and will be busy throughout the next week beginning from 28-10-19. They also stated that the travelling conditions throughout Pakistan are likely to be disturbed during the next week beginning from 28-10-19 in view of the impeding march on Islamabad on 31-10-19 by various political parties in the opposition.

The applicants stated that the lawyers in these cases come from various parts of Pakistan, particularly Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Lahore. Due to disturbed travelling conditions during the next week, it might not be possible for them to travel to Islamabad to attend the case.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019