July 26, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15,1423

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RAWALPINDI, July 25: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, on Wednesday directed the accountability court, Rawalpindi, to wait for Raja Anwar, senior counsel for former senator Asif Ali Zardari, till Aug 27, before continuing the hearing in a reference.

The LHC issued the direction on a petition of Asif Zardari, challenging the accountability court order rejecting the application of his counsel for the adjournment of the Steel Mills reference. The accountability court had observed that in case the counsel did not turn up the accused would have to argue the case himself.

Counsel for the petitioner, Raja Shafqat Abbasi advocate, on Wednesday argued that it was a fundamental right of every citizen to have a lawyer of his choice.

He stated that Raja Anwar, a senior Supreme Court advocate, was on general adjournment and could not appear as he had to undergo an eye operation.

The division bench, comprising Justice Bashir A. Mujahid and Justice Saeed Akhtar, ordered that Raja Anwar should appear before the accountability court on Aug 27.

The court held that if the counsel was not in position to appear on Aug 27, the petitioner should make alternative arrangements.