February 03, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 14, 1428

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LAHORE, Feb 2: A full bench of Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Attorney General of Pakistan for appearance in first week of March to assist on legal status of a life ban and Rs one million fine on former Pakistan captain Salim Malik over charges of match fixing.

A court official said the Attorney General would assist the court on the matter, adding that counsel for PCB had also been directed to present rules of International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) legal advisor, advocate Taffazul H Rizvi earlier submitted that Pakistan, being a member of the ICC, should follow its rules. He also presented to the court the findings of the judicial commission against Malik besides the clauses of the PCB constitution.

He, however, could not satisfy the court when asked if there was any provision regarding the imposition of a life ban. The court observed that the constitution only provided regulations about cricket and not for punishment.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jillani and Justice Syed Jamshed Ali had on Thursday sought a reply from PCB to explain the legal status of the ban. The court had observed that the PCB could not impose the ban in violation to law.

The court is proceeding into a petition of the former cricketer who has challenged the ban imposed by PCB in May 2000.