December 17, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 22, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the federal government to establish Court of Appeal for Northern Areas within one month.

The apex court had earlier adjourned the case on a number of occasions to give time to the government to come up with a decision.

The issue for the establishment of appellate court in Northern Areas cropped up during the hearing of former civil servant, Pervez Iqbal, case who was convicted of corruption by a trial court. He was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

While adjourning the hearing of the case on Nov 4, the last date of hearing, the apex court had observed that if the government did come up with the decision of establishing appellate court in Northern Areas by the next hearing in December, it would consider the request for bail for the petitioner.

Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad, on a number of occasions, had observed it was in his personal knowledge that the government was considering to establish such a court to provide right of appeal to the aggrieved people of Northern Areas.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that after payment of Rs500,000 the remaining sentence of Pervez Iqbal should remain suspended till the decision of his case by the Court of Appeal in Northern Areas.

Mr Iqbal who was arrested on Jan 21, 2001, on corruption charges was given ten-year sentence by Accountability Court, Gilgit. His sentence was reduced to four years by the chief commissioner on an appeal filed by him with a fine of Rs500,000.

Mohammad Akram Sheikh argued before the court that non- establishment of Court of Appeal in Northern Areas was in violation of judgment of seven-member bench of the Supreme Court in Al Jihad Trust case in which federal government had promised to set up Court of Appeal in Northern Areas.

The counsel stated that if people of Northern Areas had no right of appeal in the superior courts in Pakistan, then the NAB courts should not be established there.