‘You Have Directly Attacked the Judiciary’: Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar Remarks During PTI Protest Case Hearing
Islamabad (Qudrat Daily) — During the hearing of the PTI protest case, the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also raised objections to the placement of containers during protests and long marches, saying that when a long march is announced, containers are placed before citizens even arrive — is placing containers not a violation of citizens’ rights?
He requested that notice be taken against the federal government, saying he has video evidence that containers are also placed outside the KP House.
The Advocate General said that citizens’ trust in the federal government is eroding. He also raised the issue of non-implementation of court orders regarding Adiala Jail and said that court orders have not been implemented for two years — do citizens not even have the right to protest against this?
Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar responded that a contempt of court matter is between the court and the contemnor, and when cases are to be scheduled is the court’s administrative prerogative. “You have started saying strange things. Are cases to be scheduled according to you?” The Chief Justice remarked on some of the Advocate General’s arguments that “you have directly attacked the judiciary.”
During the hearing, there was also an exchange of remarks between the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Chief Justice. The Advocate General said that if any mistake has been made, it should be forgiven, to which the Chief Justice remarked that “a mistake is not forgiven, I will make you understand.” The Advocate General said, “You are a king, you can do anything.” The Chief Justice replied, “There is no need to say it, I am a king; we are here to decide according to the law.” The petitioner’s lawyer, intervening, said that he had never heard a judge being called a king.
