Punjab AG quits, contempt notice dropped

[ahlam1399]

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court full bench has dropped contempt proceedings against Advocate General Punjab, Ahmad Awais, while the latter also tendered his resignation saying he did not want to become an apple of discord between the government and the judiciary.Chief Minister Usman Buzdar was also summoned in the case Thursday and he had told the bench that the advocate general was willing to resign. He assured the bench that a new counsel would soon be engaged to represent the government in the case against the formation of a new Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on 2014 Model Town incident. At this, the bench headed by Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan had reserved its decision to the extent of contempt proceedings and adjourned the main case until April 19.The bench released its decision on Friday, which said that the contempt notice issued to the advocate general stood discharged. Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan and Justice Aalia Neelum were the other members of the bench.On March 22, the bench with a majority decision had suspended the JIT formed by government to hold fresh probe into the Model Town incident.At the time of the announcement of the suspension order, the former advocate general along with other law officers had protested against the verdict on a pretext that the office of the advocate general received no notice from the court about the proceedings. The bench had taken strong notice of the conduct and issued a contempt notice to the advocate general. The bench in its order noted that a law officer remained present in the court during the whole proceedings but he did not opt to come up with arguments, when asked by the bench.Mr Awais had secured the services of senior bar leader Hamid Khan and submitted two replies to the contempt notice, however, the bench rejected the both, saying they did not carry apology. Mr Awais preferred tendering resignation as he was reluctant to seek pardon.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/Mr4UDDvvE0c

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