LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday reprimanded the federal government over lack of progress in the Asghar Khan case, as he resumed hearing the case a day after returning from a foreign visit.
“Why hasn’t the federal cabinet done anything regarding the Asghar Khan case verdict,” he remarked, adding that this is a serious case but the government is least concerned about it.
The top judge, who reached Pakistan late Wednesday after a two-week international tour, resumed his duties Thursday morning.
A three-member bench, headed by the CJP, heard the case at Supreme Court Lahore Registry. The bench also comprises Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and Justice Gulzar Ahmed.
On May 8, the apex court gave a week’s time to the federal government to summon a cabinet meeting to determine what action to take in light of the case verdict.
Appearing before the court, the attorney general (AG) requested the court for more time. “Please give us some time to summon a meeting of the cabinet,” he said.
To which, an enraged CJP remarked: “The cabinet should hold a meeting today and take a decision. You must tell us about cabinet’s decision today only.”
Moreover, Director-General Federal Investigation Agency Basheer Memon said that an inquiry into the case is ongoing.
At the last hearing, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that the court has given its order in the case and rejected review petitions of former army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg and former Inter-Services Intelligence DG Lieutenant General Asad Durrani, accused of illegally influencing the 1990 elections.
